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A 

MANUAL 

OF 

FAMILY PRAYER; 

ADAPTED TO THE 

VARIOUS SEASONS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL YEAR: 

WITH 

PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS, 

FOR 

SPECIAL OCCASIONS. 


BY REV. HARRY CROSWELL, D. D. 

RECTOR OF THE PARISH OF TRINITY CHURCH, NEW HAVEN, CONN. 


SECOND EDITION, 

REVISED AND CORRECTED. 



PUBLISHED BY S. BABCOCK. 


1845. 













>■ 

(p 

- & 


ENTERED, 

According to Act of Congress, in the year 1842, by 
HARRY CROSWELL, 

In the Clerk’s Office of the District Court of Connecticut. 








-\ V 


PREFACE. 




This little work has been prepared, to supply a want 
long felt and often expressed by members of the Episco¬ 
pal Church. Among the excellent manuals of family 
prayer, already in use, there is none, so far as the author 
is informed, in which the daily devotions are adapted to 
the different seasons of the ecclesiastical year, as ar¬ 
ranged and designated in our public formularies: the 
same prayers and thanksgivings, whether for a week or 
a month, being used indiscriminately during festivals and 
fasts, and in joyous and penitential seasons, without refer¬ 
ence to the appropriate sentiments infused into the ap¬ 
pointed services of the Church. 

In attempting to supply this defect, it is believed that 
all the public observances, as well as the various circum¬ 
stances that may occur in a family, are amply provided 
for, without giving the work an inconvenient or expensive 
size. There is a series of stated prayers for Advent, 
Christmas, and Epiphany ; another for the season of 
Lent; another for Passion Week; another, extending 
from Easter to Trinity Sunday ; and another, from Trinity 
to Advent: besides special forms for days particularly 
distinguished in the calendar; and occasional prayers 
and thanksgivings, to be used with the daily devotions, 
as circumstances may require. 

With regard to the language employed in these forms, 
it has been the aim of the author, to adhere as strictly as 
possible to the style of the Bible and the Book of Com¬ 
mon Prayer; and, in every case, to study entire simpli¬ 
city. In the adoption of scriptural and liturgical phrases, 
he could not, had he been disposed, avoid the selection of 




4 


PREFACE. 


many of the passages found in other manuals. Drawing 
from the same sources, a similarity of expression must 
necessarily occur. 

With the earnest hope, that this little book may prove 
a welcome companion to many a household, already famil¬ 
iar with the sacred duty of family worship, and operate as 
an encouragement to others to erect the domestic altar, it 
is committed to the press, and commended to the favora¬ 
ble judgment of a Christian public, and to the divine bles¬ 
sing. H. C. 

Rectory, New-Haven, 1842. 


NOTE, FOR THE SECOND AND THIRD EDITIONS. 

Encouraged by the ready sale of the first edition of this, 
work, and the general approbation of his friends, the au¬ 
thor has been induced to make arrangements for the pub¬ 
lication of two more editions—the one on a duodecimo, 
and the other on an octavo page ; and both with a larger 
type. A few errors which escaped in the former edition, 
have been corrected, and the whole carefully revised. 

It has been suggested, that a few additional forms of 
Daily Prayer, without reference to the seasons of the ec¬ 
clesiastical year, might render the work more generally 
acceptable. The author, however, can see no good rea¬ 
son for making such addition. A sufficient variety of 
forms may be found in the different parts of the book, to 
supply the wants of those who are not disposed to con¬ 
form to the ecclesiastical order under which they are ar¬ 
ranged. The whole series of prayers, for example, from 
Trinity to Advent, may be used at any season of the year, 
with strict propriety. 

Ash-Wednesday, 1845. 











CONTENTS. 


Advent—Christmas—Epiphany. 

Sunday Morning, - - - - 9 

Sunday Evening, - - - 12 

Monday Morning, - - - - 15 

Monday Evening, - - - 17 

Tuesday Morning, - - - - 19 

Tuesday Evening, 22 

Wednesday Morning, - - - 24 

Wednesday Evening, 27 

Thursday Morning, - - - - 30 

Thursday Evening, 32 

Friday Morning, - - - - 35 

Friday Evening, 38 

Saturday Morning, - - - - 41 

Saturday Evening, 44 

Evening before Christmas, - - - 46 

Christmas Morning, 49 

Christmas Evening, - - - - 52 

Last Evening of the Year, - - 55 

First Morning of the Year, - - - 58 

Collect for Epiphany, (Jan. 6,) - - 62 

Lent. 

Ash-Wednesday Morning, - - - 63 

Ash-Wednesday Evening, 65 

Sunday Morning, - - - - 68 

Sunday Evening, - - - - 70 

Monday Morning, - - - - 73 

Monday Evening, - - - - 76 





CONTENTS. 


6 


Tuesday Morning, - - - - 78 

Tuesday Evening, - - - 81 

Wednesday Morning, - - - 83 

Wednesday Evening, - - - 86 

Thursday Morning, - - - 88 

Thursday Evening, - - - 91 

Friday Morning, - - - 94 

Friday Evening, - - - 96 

Saturday Morning, - - - 99 

Saturday Evening, - - - 100 

Passion Week. 

Sunday Morning, - - - - 105 

Sunday Evening, - - - 108 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 

Morning, - - - - 110 

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday 

Evening, - - - - 113 

Good Friday Morning, - - - 1T 5 

Good Friday Evening, - - - 117 

Saturday Morning, - - - - 120 

Saturday Evening before Easter, - - 122 


Easter to Trinity Sunday. 

Easter Sunday—Morning, - 125 

Easter Sunday—Evening, - - 128 

Sunday Morning, - - - - 130 

Sunday Evening, - - - 133 

Monday Morning, - - - - 135 

Monday Evening, - - - 137 

Tuesday Morning, - - - - 140 

Tuesday Evening, - - - 142 

Wednesday Morning, - - - 145 

Wednesday Evening, - - - 147 

Thursday Morning, - - - - 150 

Thursday Evening, - - - 152 

Friday Morning, - - - - 155 








CONTENTS. 


7 


Friday Evening, 

Saturday Morning, - 
Saturday Evening, 

Ascension Day—Morning, - 
Ascension Day—Evening, 
Whit-Sunday—Morning, 
Whit-Sunday—Evening, 

Trinity to Advent. 

Trinity Sunday Morning, 
Trinity Sunday Evening, 
Sunday Morning, 

Sunday Evening, 

Monday Morning, - 
Monday Evening, 

Tuesday Morning, - 
Tuesday Evening, 

Wednesday Morning, 
Wednesday Evening, 
Thursday Morning, - 
Thursday Evening, 

Friday Morning, 

Friday Evening, 

Saturday Morning, - 
Saturday Evening, 

Morning of the Fourth of July, 
Thanksgiving Day—Morning, 
Thanksgiving Day—Evening, 


157 
- 160 
162 

- 164 
167 

- 169 
172 


- 175 
178 

- 180 
183 

- 186 
188 

- 191 
193 

- 196 
198 

- 201 
204 

- 207 
209 

- 211 
214 

- 216 
218 

- 221 


Occasional Prayers and Thanksgivings : to be used 

IN CONNECTION WITH THE OTHER DEVOTIONS. 

Prayers. 


For Communion Day Morning, - - 225 

After Baptism, - 226 

After Confirmation, - 226 

After a Marriage, - 227 

For the Children of a Family, - - 227 








8 


CONTENTS. 


For Sunday Schools, - - - 228 

On the Birth-day of a Member of the Family, 229 
For a sick Person, - 229 

For a person dangerously sick, - - 230 

For a blessing on the means of recovery, - 231 

For a sick Person at the point of departure, 232 
For a sick Child, - 232 

For a Person troubled in mind or conscience, 233 
When under Affliction, - 234 

After a Funeral, - 235 

For a Person at Sea, - 236 

For a Person on a Journey, - 236 

After an Ordination, ... 237 

For Conventions, - 237 

For Rain, - 238 

For Fair Weather, - 239 

In time of Dearth and Famine, - - 239 

In time of War and Tumults, - - 240 

In time of great Sickness and Mortality, - 240 

Thanksgivings . 

After Communion, - - - - 241 

For the beginning of Recovery from Sickness, 241 
For Recovery from Sickness, - - 242 

For a safe Return from Sea, - - 243 

For a safe Return from a Journey, - - 243 

After the birth of a Child, - - 244 

For Rain, - 244 

For Fair Weather, ... 245 

For Plenty, - 245 

For a return of Peace, - 246 

For the restoration of tranquility at home, - 246 

For deliverance from great Sickness and 

Mortality, - 247 

Blessings and Graces at Table. 

Before Meals, - 248 

After Meals, - - . 248 





FAMILY PRAYERS. 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


Sunday Morning. 

Our Father, who art in Heaven, Hallowed 
be thy name ; thy Kingdom come ; thy Will 
be done on Earth, as it is in Heaven ; Give us 
this day our daily bread ; And forgive us our 
trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass 
against us ; And lead us not into temptation ; 
But deliver us from evil; For thine is the King¬ 
dom, and the Power, and the Glory, forever 
and ever. Amen . 

Almighty God, who hast set apart this day 
for thyself, and hast commanded us to keep it 
holy to thy name, look down upon us in mercy, 
2 


10 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


while we dedicate to thee the first fruits of the 
morning. Give us grace, that we may cast 
away the works of darkness, and put upon us 
the armor of light, now in the time of this 
mortal life, in which thy Son Jesus Christ 
came to visit us in great humility. Prepare 
us for the various duties which are now before 
us, and especially for the solemn services of 
thy sanctuary. May we go with the multitude 
to thy house of prayer, with the voice of joy 
and praise. There may we give thee the glory 
which is due unto thy name,'and worship thee 
in the beauty of holiness. And, O blessed 
Lord, who hast caused all holy Scriptures to 
be written for our learning ; grant that we may 
in such wise hear them, read, mark, learn, and 
inwardly digest them, that by patience and 
comfort of thy holy word, we may embrace and 
ever hold fast, the blessed hope of everlasting 
life, which thou hast given us in our Saviour 
Jesus Christ. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O Lord, remember in mercy all those who 
may be prevented, by sickness or any other 
providential impediment, from attending the 
ordinances of thy house, and the habitation 
which their soul loveth. Let thy presence be 
with them in their private meditations. Endue 
them with a spirit of supplication and praise. 
Let their prayer come up before thee as in- 







ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


11 


cense, and the lifting up of their hands as an 
acceptable sacrifice. Look with pity, O Lord, 
upon the careless and negligent, and especially 
upon those who have hitherto misspent or 
profaned thy sabbaths. Grant them yet a day 
of grace, and still further space for repentance ; 
and teach them so to improve the opportunities 
that remain, that they may redeem the time 
which they have lost, and finally be accepted 
of thee, through the all-prevailing intercession 
of thy blessed Son. 

Pardon, O Lord, the infirmities and imper¬ 
fections of thy most faithful and devoted ser¬ 
vants, and manifest thy power in their weak¬ 
ness. Sustain them in all their troubles ; guide 
them in all their difficulties ; support them in 
the hour of danger, and guard them in the day 
of temptation. Let thy bountiful grace and 
mercy help and deliver them ; that so they 
may pass through all the trials of this life in 
peace and safety, and finally rejoice in the 
triumphs of redeeming grace. 

O Lord Jesus Christ, who at thy first coming 
didst send thy messenger to prepare thy way 
before thee ; grant that the ministers whom 
thou hast sent to preach thy word, and the 
appointed stewards of thy mysteries, may 
faithfully and diligently discharge their sacred 
duties ; that they may prepare and make ready 
thy way, by turning the hearts of the disobedient 


/ 






12 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


to the wisdom of the just; that so, at thy 
second coming to judge the world, both they 
who preach and they who hear, may be found 
an acceptable people in thy sight, who livest 
and reignest with the Father, and the Holy 
Spirit, ever one God, world without end. 
Amen . 

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the 
love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy 
Ghost, be with us all evermore. Amen . 


Sunday Evening. 

Almighty and everlasting God, we bless thee 
for our creation, preservation, and all the bless¬ 
ings of this life; but, above all, for thine un¬ 
speakable love in the redemption of the world 
by our Lord Jesus Christ; for the means of 
grace which thou hast bestowed upon us, and 
for the hope of glory which thou hast set before 
us. Heavenly Father, make us duly sensible 
of thy unspeakable gift, whereby we obtain the 
pardon of our sins, and all things necessary for 
our eternal salvation. We adore thee for the 
great mystery of the incarnation; for the 
coming of thy blessed Son in the flesh to dwell 
among us; for the perfect example set before 








ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


13 


us in his holy life ; for his painful atonement for 
the sins of the world; and for his glorious 
resurrection from the grave, whereby he hath 
given us assurance, that he is able also to raise 
our bodies from the dust, and to exalt us to 
his own right hand in the kingdom of heaven. 

We pray thee, O Lord, to impress deeply 
on our minds the great and solemn truths re¬ 
vealed in thy word ; that amidst the cares and 
occupations of the world, we may neither for¬ 
get our Christian privileges, nor neglect the 
duties to which we are called. Convince us 
of the vanity of the world, of the shortness of 
life, and of the unspeakable importance of 
preparing for eternity. Save us from the sins 
of indifference, carelessness, and levity, as well 
as from bold and presumptuous transgression. 
Purify our hearts by thy Holy Spirit, that we 
may be cleansed from every secret fault, and 
every unholy passion. And pardon, O Lord, 
the multitude of our past iniquities ; our for¬ 
getfulness of thee and of all thy mercies, and 
the coldness and hardness of our hearts, in the 
midst of all thy bounties. Thou hast nourish¬ 
ed and brought us up as thy children, and we 
have rebelled against thee. Thou hast sus¬ 
tained, and protected, and comforted us. 
Thou hast borne with our infirmities, and 
withheld thy chastening hand when we de¬ 
served nothing but punishment. Thou hast 
2 * 








14 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


laid us under peculiar obligations to love and 
serve thee, and to praise and magnify thy holy 
name. But how little have we honored thee ! 
How little have we done to glorify thee ! O 
Lord, forgive our ingratitude to thee. Enable 
us to look up to Jesus, the great Mediator of 
the new covenant, for the remission of our 
sins, and for all the benefits of his glorious re¬ 
demption. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We intercede with thee, gracious God, for 
all our relatives, friends, and brethren ; and 
especially for those who are in sorrow, sick¬ 
ness, or any kind of trouble. Give them the 
consolations which thou alone canst bestow. 
Pat into their hearts a holy trust in thee, and 
a sure hope in thy promises. And may those 
who are compassed with infirmities, and who 
feel that their outward man is perishing, be 
strengthened with might by thy spirit in the 
inner man ; that so their light affliction, which 
is but for a moment, may work out for them a 
far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. 

Take us now, O God, under thy gracious 
care and protection this night. Let thy bless¬ 
ing attend us ; and thy good spirit rest upon 
us; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 










ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHAN Y. 


15 


Monday Morning. 

O God, oiu* heavenly Father, we bless thee 
for the return of this morning light. We bless 
thee for thy guardianship and care during the 
hours of darkness. Enable us, we beseech 
thee, to devote the first fruits of the day to 
thee. Accept our humble thanks for all thy 
mercies, and especially for the gift of thine In¬ 
carnate Son. Blessed be the Lord God of 
Israel, that he hath redeemed us, and raised up 
a mighty salvation for us ; that the day-spring 
from on high hath visited us, to give light to 
them that sit in darkness and in the shadow 
of death, and to guide our feet into the way of 
peace. We thank thee for that revelation, 
by which the power and coming of our Lord 
Jesus Christ are made known to us. We 
thank thee for the gracious offers of sal¬ 
vation, through his name and mediation ; 
and for that atoning sacrifice, through which 
our sins, though they be as scarlet, shall be as 
white as snow, and though they be red like 
crimson, shall be as wool. We thank thee 
especially for the sure word of prophecy, 
whereunto we are admonished to take heed, as 
unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until 
the day dawn, and the day-star arise in our 
hearts. And we beseech thee, O God, to 
grant us grace, that we may not receive this 






16 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


revelation in vain ; that we may not be of the 
number of those who choose darkness rather 
than light, because their deeds are evil: But 
enable us to walk as becometh the children of 
light. 

Guide and direct us, heavenly Father, in the 
duties of this day. May a sense of thy con¬ 
tinual presence abide with us, to restrain every 
evil passion and propensity, and to support and 
encourage us in the discharge of our respective 
duties. Let thy fatherly hand be ever over us. 
Let thy Holy Spirit be ever with us; and so 
lead us in the knowledge and obedience of thy 
word, that in the end we may obtain everlast¬ 
ing life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We commend to thy fatherly care and pro¬ 
tection, all our friends and relatives. Give 
them grace as they may severally stand in 
need ; and order all things for their present 
and eternal good. Be a present God to all 
who are in any kind of trouble. Show the 
light of thy countenance to those who are 
weary and heavy-laden with the burden of 
their sins; and comfort and sustain those who 
are suffering under any temporal calamity. 
May they receive thy chastisements as the lov¬ 
ing correction of a kind and beneficent parent, 
who dost chasten them for their profit, and 
correct them that they may live. And in the 






ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY 


17 


days of their prosperity, give them a grateful 
sense of all thy mercies ; and teach them, as 
dutiful children, and the humble partakers of 
thy bounty, to ascribe all the honor and glory 
to thee, their gracious benefactor, through Je¬ 
sus Christ our Lord. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Monday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

O God, merciful Father, we come before 
thee this night, as a sinful people, laden with 
iniquity. We humbly acknowledge that we 
have rebelled against thee. We have for¬ 
saken thy holy law, and provoked thee to an¬ 
ger. But, O God, we beseech thee, rebuke 
us not in thy indignation, neither chasten us in 
thy displeasure. Look down upon us, in mer¬ 
cy and compassion ; and, for the love of thy 
dear Son, forgive us all our sins. May the 
sound of thy blessed gospel, like the voice of 
one crying in the wilderness, awaken us to 
true repentance ; that the hearts of the disobe¬ 
dient may be turned to the wisdom of the just; 
that, in every place, the way of the Lord may 
be prepared ; and that all flesh may see the 









13 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS-EPIPHANY. 


salvation of God. Baptize us, heavenly Fa¬ 
ther, with thy Holy Spirit; that we may bring 
forth fruits worthy of repentance ; that we 
may put away the evil of our doings ; that we 
may cease to do evil, and learn to do well; 
that so, when the axe is laid unto the root of 
the trees, we may, through thy great goodness, 
escape from the wrath to come. 

We bless thee, O Lord God of Israel, for 
thy manifold mercies in Christ Jesus. Through 
him, thou hast visited and redeemed thy peo¬ 
ple ; and hast raised up a mighty salvation for 
us in the house of thy servant David, as thou 
hast spoken by the mouth of thy holy prophets 
since the world began. Through him mercy 
and truth have met together, righteousness and 
peace have embraced each other. With his 
own right hand, and with his holy arm, hath 
he gotten himself the victory. Our souls do 
magnify thee, O Lord ; and our spirits rejoice 
in God our Saviour. 

O God, let thy blessing rest upon us this 
night. Make us deeply sensible of our help¬ 
lessness, and dependence upon thee. Let us 
meditate on our frailty, and consider the short¬ 
ness and uncertainty of our life. O let us re¬ 
member, that we walk in a vain shadow 7 ; that 
our days are but a span long; and that every 
man living is altogether vanity. Let us re¬ 
member, that all flesh is as grass, and flourish- 








ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


19 


eth as the flower of the field : It is gone when 
the wind passeth over it, and the place thereof 
shall know it no more. May these solemn 
thoughts humble us before thee. Thy merci¬ 
ful goodness endureth forever upon them that 
fear thee. Help us to cast away all confi¬ 
dence in the flesh, and to put on the Lord Je¬ 
sus Christ. Whether we live, may we live 
unto the Lord ; and whether we die, may we 
die unto the Lord ; so that whether we live, 
or whether we die, we may be the Lord’s. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

And now may the God of hope fill us with 
all joy and peace in believing; that we may 
abound in hope, through the power of the 
Holy Ghost; to whom, with the Father, and 
the Son, be all honor and glory, world without 
end. Amen . 

The grace, &c. 


Tuesday Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

O Lord God, our heavenly Father, grant us 
grace, at this time, to present our bodies a liv¬ 
ing sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto thee, which 
is our reasonable service. Let us come before 








20 


ADVENT—CHRISTM A S—EPIPHANY. 


thee, under a grateful sense of all thy good¬ 
ness. We will exalt thee: We will praise 
thy name ; for thou has done wonderful things 
in thy righteousness. We will be glad, and 
rejoice in thy salvation. Every day will we 
give thanks unto thee, and praise thy name 
for ever and ever. 

We commend ourselves, O God, to thy 
care and protection this day. Defend us with 
thy mighty power. Stretch forth thine hand 
to deliver us from every danger. Guide and 
direct us by thy good spirit; that we may shun 
every evil way, and walk securely in thy com¬ 
mandments. Grant us grace, that we fall not 
under the power of temptation, nor indulge in 
any secret or open sin. Purify our hearts, and 
regulate our desires, and restrain our passions, 
that all our doings, being ordered by thy gov¬ 
ernance, maybe righteous in thy sight, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We bless thee, O God, that thou hast caus¬ 
ed thy holy scriptures to be written for our 
learning: And we beseech thee to grant, that 
they may prove profitable to us, for doctrine, 
for reproof, for correction, for instruction in 
righteousness; that we may be perfected in 
obedience, and thoroughly furnished unto all 
good works. May we all be so taught of thee, 
that thy law may be written in our hearts ; 









ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


21 


that we may call upon thee as our God, and be 
acknowledged as thy people. 

Grant, O Lord, that the ministers of thy 
word may go forth in all the world, preaching 
the baptism of repentance for the remission of 
sins. Grant that the dark and benighted re¬ 
gions of the earth may hear the voice of re¬ 
deeming love ; that the word that goeth forth 
out of Zion may extend to the uttermost 
bounds of the earth ; and that all men may 
know thee, from the greatest to the least. Has¬ 
ten the day, O God, when the mountain of the 
Lord’s house shall be established in the top of 
the mountains, and shall he exalted above the 
hills, and all nations shall flow unto it. May 
many people go and say, Come ye, and let us 
go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the 
house of the God of Jacob ; and he will teach 
us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths. 
Hasten the day, when the nations of the earth 
shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and 
their spears into pruning-hooks ; when nation 
shall not lift up sword against nation, neither 
learn war any more ; when all may walk in 
the light of the Lord, and great shall be the 
peace of thy children. 

Prepare us, O God, for the hour of death, 
and for the day of judgment; that when thy 
blessed Son, who hast ascended into heaven, 
and sitteth on thy right hand, shall come again, 
3 





22 ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. _ 

with glory, to judge both the quick and dead, 
we may be ready to say, Lo, this is our God ; 
we have waited for him, and he will save us. 
Grant this, for Jesus Christ’s sake, to whom, 
with thee, O Father, and the Holy Ghost, be 
all honor and glory, now and forever. Amen . 


Tuesday Evetiing. 

Almighty and most merciful Father, we ap¬ 
proach thy throne with humble reverence and 
godly fear. Bow down thine ear, we beseeeh 
thee, and hear us, for thy dear Son’s sake : 
And grant us thy grace, to purify our thoughts, 
and to direct our meditations. Set a watch, 
O Lord, before our mouths, and keep the door 
of our lips ; that this our evening sacrifice may 
be acceptable unto thee. 

We acknowledge the manifold and great 
mercies, which thou hast bestowed upon us 
this day. Thy favors have been multiplied, 
and demand our thankfulness. O Lord, who 
is like unto thee, that hast thy dwelling so 
high, and yel humblest thyself to behold all 
things in heaven and earth. Thou hast deliv¬ 
ered our souls from death, and our eyes from 
tears ; thou hast kept our feet from falling ; 
thou hast permitted us to walk before thee, in 
the light of the living. O, that we might 



ADVENT—CHRISTMAS-EPIPHANY. 23 

praise thee, according to thy great goodness ! 
O, that we might magnify thy name forever! 

Be merciful, O God, unto all our friends, 
relatives, and brethren. Lift up the light of 
thy countenance upon those who are here 
present, that they may worship thee in spirit 
and in truth ; that they may know thee to be 
their God, and feel the power of thy grace in 
the pardon of their sins. To those who are 
absent, whatsoever be their condition, or 
wheresoever thy providence shall direct them, 
extend thy guardian care and protection. Let 
thy Fatherly hand be ever over them, to de¬ 
liver them from peril and danger : Let thy 
Holy Spirit be ever with them, to keep them 
from the power of temptation : And so lead 
them in the knowledge and obedience of thy 
word, that in the end they may obtain ever¬ 
lasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Let a continual sense of thy presence abide 
with our civil rulers and magistrates ; and so 
replenish them with the grace of thy Holy 
Spirit, that they may always incline to thy 
will, and walk in thy way : Endue them plen- 
teously with heavenly gifts; grant them in 
health and prosperity long to live; and finally, 
after this life, to attain everlasting joy and fe¬ 
licity. 

O Lord, may we remember, at the close of 
every day, that the end of all things is at hand. 



24 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


May we remember, that the time must soon 
come, when we shall stand before thy judg¬ 
ment-seat, O Christ; when every knee shall 
bow, and every tongue confess, to thee. And, 
O God, when those mighty signs shall appear, 
which thou hast foretold in the scriptures ; 
when the powers of heaven shall be shaken ; 
and when the Son of man shall be seen com¬ 
ing in the clouds, with power and great glory ; 
may we be found among the blessed number 
whose redemption draweth nigh : May we 
be prepared to unite in the triumphant song of 
Zion—Hosannah to the Son of David ; bless¬ 
ed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord : 
Hosannah in the highest ! 

We ask for all, in the name, and for the 
sake, and through the merits of Jesus Christ 
our Lord; in whose all-prevailing words we 
sum up these our petitions :— 

Our Father, &c. 


Wednesday Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty and everlasting God, who hast 
taught us, in thy holy word, to make prayers, 
and supplications, and intercessions, and to 
give thanks for all men ; we humbly beseech 







ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 25 

thee favorably to receive these our prayers, 
which we offer unto thy divine majesty. We 
bless thee for thy great mercy, in opening a 
door of access to thy throne, through the inter¬ 
cession of thy dear Son, who is revealed to us 
as the way, the truth, and the life. We bless 
thee for thy gracious promise, that whatsoever 
we shall faithfully ask of thee in his name, 
shall be given unto us. We come before thee, 
pleading this thy unfailing assurance ; and we 
beseech thee to look down upon us in mercy, 
and grant our petitions for Jesus Christ’s sake. 

W e pray for thy holy Church throughout 
the world. Inspire its ministers and members 
with the spirit of truth, unity, and concord; 
that it may be delivered from all false doctrine, 
heresy, and schism ; from hardness of heart, 
and contempt of thy word and commandment; 
and grant that all those w ho confess thy holy 
name, may agree in the truth of thy holy word, 
and live in peace, and harmony, and godly 
love. 

We pray for all Christian rulers and magis¬ 
trates ; beseeching thee so to direct and dis¬ 
pose their hearts, that they may truly and im¬ 
partially administer justice, to the punishment 
of wickedness and vice, and to the mainten¬ 
ance of thy true religion and virtue. 

We pray for our common country ; that its 
civil, religious, and benevolent institutions, 
3 * 





26 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


may enjoy thy blessing ; that its schools and 
seminaries of learning may flourish and pros¬ 
per ; that health, and peace, and plenteousness 
may abound ; that righteousness, which alone 
exalteth a nation, may prevail; and that sin, 
which is a reproach to any people, may not be 
our ruin. 

We pray for all sorts and conditions of men; 
that thou wouldst give them thy heavenly 
grace ; and especially to this family here as¬ 
sembled in thy name and presence ; that with 
meekness of heart and due reverence, they may 
hear and obey thy commandments ; truly serv¬ 
ing thee in holiness and righteousness all the 
days of their life. 

We pray for all those, who, in this transi¬ 
tory life, are in trouble, sorrow, need, sick¬ 
ness, or any other adversity. Of thy great 
goodness, O Lord, comfort and succor them. 
Show them the light of thy countenance ; sus¬ 
tain them in all their trials ; and make all things 
to work together for their present and eternal 
welfare. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We thank thee, O God, for the good exam¬ 
ples of thy blessed servants, who have departed 
this life in thy faith and fear. Give us grace, 
so to follow them in their holy living, that with 
them we may be partakers of thy heavenly 
kingdom. 






ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


27 


We ask for all, in the name and for the sake 
of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee, 
O Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honor 
and glory, world without end. Amen . 


Wednesday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty God, the giver of every good and 
perfect gift, we bless thee for another opportu¬ 
nity of coming into thy presence ; and we be¬ 
seech thee, of thy great goodness, to accept 
our thanksgivings and receive our prayers. 
May we approach thy throne with due reve¬ 
rence and godly fear; knowing that thou art 
everywhere present, and searchest out all our 
ways ; that there is not a word in our tongue, 
nor a thought or intent of our heart, but thou, 
O Lord, knowest it altogether. 

We acknowledge all our sinfulness. We 
have gone astray like lost and wandering 
sheep. But, O thou Shepherd of Israel, who 
came to seek and to save that which was lost, 
may we hear thy voice, and return unto thee. 
And we beseech thee to have compassion upon 
us ; and bind up the broken ; and reclaim the 
wandering ; and restore us to the paths of 
righteousness and peace. 





23 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


When compassed about with infirmities, 
and sorrows, and sufferings, may we repose in 
perfect trust and confidence on thy promise, 
that thou wilt swallow up death in victory, and 
wipe away tears from off all faces. May we 
look upon our blessed Saviour as he is reveal¬ 
ed to us, a King reigning in righteousness. 
May he be unto us, as a hiding place from the 
wind, and a covert from the tempest; as riv¬ 
ers of water in a dry place ; as the shadow of 
a great rock in a weary land. 

We commend to thy providential care, all 
Christian families, and especially those of our 
relatives and friends. Be thou present with 
them, when they assemble together this night 
to worship thee ; and hearken to their prayers, 
and assist them by thy grace. And grant that 
the united supplications of all thy people, in 
every place, may ascend to thy throne, and call 
down an answer of peace and consolation. 
[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Have mercy, O God, upon the poor, the 
desolate, and the oppressed. Be thou the 
widow’s God, and a father of the fatherless ; 
and raise up, we beseech thee, friends and 
benefactors for the needy and the destitute ; 
that they may be defended in all adversities, 
and provided for in all their necessities. 

We pray for our enemies, persecutors, and 
slanderers. Plave pity and compassion upon 



ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


29 


them ; and grant them grace to see their wick¬ 
edness, and turn from their sins. Forgive 
them, O Lord, in thy mercy ; and grant us a 
spirit of forgiveness, that we may be ready to 
do unto others, as we would that thou shouldst 
do unto us. c 

Extend thy compassion, heavenly Father, 
to those wdio are spiritually blind and igno¬ 
rant. Cause the wicked to forsake his way, 
and the unrighteous man his thoughts, that 
he may turn unto thee, and be abundantly 
pardoned. 

£end out the light of thy everlasting gospel 
to the benighted heathen, and to all who are 
dwelling in darkness and the shadow of death. 
May the glad tidings of salvation be heard 
among them, as the voice of one crying in the 
wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, 
and make his paths straight. 

We ask for all, in the name and for the sake 
of Jesus Christ our Lord, to w hom, with thee, 
O Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honor 
and glory, world without end. Amen . 





30 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


Thursday Morning. 


Our Father, &c. 

O God, we acknowledge thee as our Al¬ 
mighty Creator and most gracious preserver. 
Thou hast set all the borders of the earth : 
Thou hast made summer and winter: The 
day is thine, and the night is thine : Thou 
hast prepared the light and the sun. By thy 
goodness, we are brought to the beginning of 
another day. We lift up our eyes to thee, 
from whom cometli our help. Make ready 
our hearts, O God, to speak thy praise. Let 
them that put their trust in thee, rejoice. Let 
them that love thy name, be joyful and glad in 
thee. We will give thanks unto thee, O Lord, 
with our whole heart; with grateful lips will 
we speak of all thy marvelous works. 

We especially thank thee, heavenly Father, 
that thou hast vouchsafed to call us to the knowl¬ 
edge of thy grace and faith in thee. We bless 
thee for the gift of thy dear Son ; and for the 
glorious immortality which thou hast brought 
to light, through his incarnation and mediation. 
We bless thee for the hope set before us in thy 
everlasting gospel; and for the revelation, by 
which alone we are made wise unto salvation. 
May our knowledge be increased, and our faith 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 31 

confirmed ; that we may continue thy ser¬ 
vants, and finally attain thy gracious promises. 

O God, enable us, through thv grace, to 
keep in lively remembrance the solemn vows 
by which we are bound to thee in our bap¬ 
tismal covenant. May we truly renounce the 
devil and all his works, the vain pomp and 
glory of the world, with all covetous desires of 
the flesh ; so that we may neither follow nor 
be led by them. May we steadfastly believe 
all the articles of our Christian faith ; and 
obediently keep thy holy commandments, and 
walk in the same all the days of our life. 
Grant that the old Adam may be so buried, 
that the new man may he raised up in ns. 
Grant that all sinful affections may die in us, 
and that all things belonging to the Spirit may 
live and grow in us. Grant that we may have 
power and strength to have victory, and to 
triumph against the devil, the world, and the 
flesh. Grant that whosoever is dedicated to 
thee, through the offices and ministry of thy 
Church, may be endued with heavenly virtues, 
and finally, by thy mercy, receive the rewards 
of thy everlasting kingdom. 

May we each of us remember, that by bap¬ 
tism we have put on Christ; and that it is our 
part and duty, being made the children of God, 
and of the light, by faith in Jesus Christ, to 
walk answerably to our Christian calling, and 


32 ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. ^ 

as becometh the children of light; that bap¬ 
tism represented! unto us our profession ; 
which is to follow the example of our Saviour 
Christ, and to be made like unto him ; that as 
he died and rose again for us, so should we, 
who are baptized, die from sin, and rise again 
unto righteousness; continually mortifying all 
our evil and corrupt affections, and daily pro¬ 
ceeding in all virtue and godliness of living. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Guide and direct us, heavenly Father, in all 
the duties and cares of this day. Protect us 
from every evil and danger. Guard us against 
temptation ; and sustain us amid the trials and 
troubles of this transitory life. Be merciful 
unto our friends and relatives, whether present 
or absent. Make them partakers of thy grace, 
and of all the benefits and consolations of thy 
gospel ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to 
whom, with thee, O Father, and the Holy 
Ghost, be honor and glory, now and forever. 
Amen . 


Thursday Evening. 

O Lord God, heavenly Father, we humbly 
beseech thee to look down upon us in mercy, 
and receive our prayers and supplications, not 
for our merits or deservings, but for the sake 





A DVENT— CHRISTMAS—EPIPHAN Y. 


33 


of our blessed Redeemer, and exalted Inter¬ 
cessor. Enable us, at this time, to present 
ourselves a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable 
unto thee, which is our reasonable service: And 
receive us, as thou hast promised by thy well 
beloved Son, saying, Ask, and ye shall have; 
seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be 
opened unto you: So give now unto us who 
ask ; let us who seek, find; open the gate unto 
us who knock; that we may enjoy the ever¬ 
lasting benefits of thy transforming grace, and 
finally come to thy eternal kingdom. 

Give us a grateful sense, O God, of all thy 
mercies in Christ Jesus; and make us partakers 
of the great salvation which he has revealed 
to us. Thou hast called unto all the ends of 
the earth to look unto thee and be saved. The 
word has gone out of thy mouth in righteous¬ 
ness, and shall not return, that unto thee every 
knee shall bow, and every tongue confess thy 
name. O, grant us grace, that we, thy servants, 
may be found among the happy number who 
obey this call, and submit to thy righteousness. 
And hasten the fulfillment of thy gracious 
promise, that thou wilt comfort Zion, and build 
up her waste places; that thou wilt make her 
wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the 
garden of the Lord; that joy and gladness 
shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the 
voice of melody. O God, let thy righteousness 
4 






34 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


draw near; let thy salvation go forth; let the 
isles wait upon thee, and on thine arm let them 
trust: And let the redeemed of the Lord return 
and come with singing unto Zion; that ever¬ 
lasting joy may be upon their head; that they 
may obtain joy and gladness ; and that sorrow 
and sighing may flee away. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Hear our supplications, heavenly Father, for 
all sorts and conditions of men. O thou, on 
whom the Spirit of the Lord rested ; who wast 
anointed to preach the gospel to the poor; 
who wast sent to heal the broken-hearted, to 
proclaim deliverance to the captives, and re¬ 
covery of sight to the blind ; to set at liberty 
those that were bruised; and to preach the 
acceptable year of the Lord ; have compassion 
on all those who are in sorrow, sickness, or 
any other trouble. Keep them by thy mighty 
power, and comfort them by thy grace. Be 
gracious and merciful to all our relatives and 
friends. May they look up to thee in humble 
confidence and trust, and commit all their 
concerns into thy hands, as a constant preserver 
and bountiful benefactor. Guard us in safety 
through the silent watches of this night, and 
bring us in health and peace to the beginning of 
another day. And may it be our purpose and 
desire, with our renewed strength and ability, 
so to serve thee in this world, that in the world 





ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


35 


to come we may have life everlasting. Grant 
this, heavenly Father, for the sake of Jesus 
Christ, our blessed Lord and Saviour, in whose 
perfect form of words we sum up these our 
petitions:— 

Our Father, &c. 

Unto God’s gracious care and protection we 
now commit ourselves for this night. The 
Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make 
his face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto 
us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon 
us, and give us peace both now and evermore. 
Amen . 


Friday Morning. 

Almighty and everlasting God, look in mercy 
upon our infirmities. We acknowledge our 
helplessness and dependence. Without thee 
we can do nothing. We are surrounded by 
dangers and temptations; and by reason of the 
frailty of our nature, we can not always stand 
upright. But thou, O God, art able to sustain 
us. Thy hand is not shortened, that it can not 
save; neither is thy ear heavy, that it can not 
hear. Have pity upon us, O God of our 
salvation. Grant that our iniquities may not 
separate between us and thy mercies. Let not 












36 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


our sins cause thee to hide thy face from us. 
In all our necessities, stretch forth thy right 
hand to help and defend us. Give us such 
strength and protection, as may support us in 
all dangers, and carry us in safety through all 
our temptations. Knowing that thou art rich 
in mercy to all who call upon thee in the name 
of thy dear Son ; give us faith to believe thy 
word, and to rely on thy promises; that our 
prayers may come up before thee as an accept¬ 
able offering, and that they may be heard and 
answered, through the merits and intercession 
of our blessed Saviour. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O God, thou hast been found of them that 
sought thee not. Thou hast been made man¬ 
ifest to them that asked not after thee. May 
the sound of the everlasting gospel be spread 
abroad from shore to shore; until all the nations 
of the world be turned unto thee, and all the 
kindreds of the earth shall worship before thee. 
Be thou exalted among the heathen. Let them 
that dwell in the wilderness kneel down before 
thee. Let the kings of the earth fall down at 
thy footstool. Let all the people of the earth 
do thee service. Let thy name be glorified 
among all the posterities of men, who shall be 
blessed through thee. Let the heathen praise 
thee. Let all the earth be filled with thy 
majesty. 







ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


37 


We bless thee, O God, for having cast our 
lot in a land of gospel light and knowledge. 
May we be kept by thy grace, from any mis- 
improvement of our great privileges. Keep, 
thy Church and household continually in thy 
true religion. Grant that we, who profess to 
know thee, and to hope in thy mercies, may 
walk circumspectly in all thy commandments. 
Enable us to fulfill our respective obligations to 
thee and to each other. May no occasion be 
given to the enemies of religion to blaspheme 
thy holy name. May we show our love to 
thee, by following thy precepts, and living a 
life of purity and holiness. May we look away 
from the things which are seen, and are tem¬ 
poral, and fix our hopes, and affections, and 
desires, on the things that are not seen, and 
are eternal. And may we remember, that 
when our day of probation has passed away, 
and our years are brought to an end, we must 
all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, 
that every one may receive the things done in 
his body, and be punished or rewarded accord¬ 
ing to what he hath done, whether it be good, 
or whether it be evil. And knowing the 
terror of the Lord, may we be persuaded, now 
in the time of this mortal life, to do the will of 
our heavenly Father, with all fidelity and dili¬ 
gence. Direct us especially in all the duties 
of this day, that in all our works begun, con- 
4 * 





38 


ADVENT—CHRISTMA S—EPIPHANY. 


tinued, and ended in thee, we may glorify thy 
holy name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain 
everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Friday Evening. 

O God, whose blessed Son came into the 
world, to redeem us from sin and death, and 
was manifested, that he might destroy the 
works of the devil, and make us the sons of 
God and heirs of eternal life; grant us grace, 
we beseech thee, to seek with earnestness and 
diligence, the benefits of this great salvation. 
May we look with humble trust and confidence, 
for the pardon of our sins, through the media¬ 
tion of our ever blessed Redeemer; and may 
we obtain that lively hope, which is as an 
anchor to the soul, sure and steadfast. And 
having this hope, may we, through the sancti¬ 
fying influences of thy Holy Spirit, purify 
ourselves, according to the pattern and example 
of our blessed Saviour Jesus Christ; that 
when he shall appear again with power and 









ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


39 


great glory, we may be made like unto him, in 
his eternal and glorious kingdom. 

We praise thee, O God, for all the manifes¬ 
tations of thy goodness to a lost and ruined 
world. Great and marvelous are thy works, 
Lord God Almighty. Just and true are thy 
ways, thou King of Saints. Be it our delight 
to praise thee, and glorify thy name. Let all 
the people come and worship before thee. 
Make bare thine holy arm in the eyes of all 
the nations. Let all the ends of the earth see 
the salvation of God. May the Redeemer, the 
Holy One of Israel, have the heathen for his 
inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the 
earth for his possession. Though the moun¬ 
tains depart and the hills be removed, let not 
thy kindness depart from those who fear thee ; 
neither let the covenant of thy peace be re¬ 
moved. As the earth bringeth forth her bud, 
and as the garden causeth the things that are 
sown in it to spring forth; so, O Lord God, 
cause righteousness and praise to spring forth 
before all the nations. Let the people praise 
thee, O God, yea, let all the people praise thee. 

Put thy Spirit into the hearts of thy servants 
whom thou hast called to preach thy living 
word. Beautiful are the feet of them that 
preach the gospel of peace, and bring the glad 
tidings of salvation ! May they go forth on 
this mission of mercy, guided by thy truth, sus- 








40 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


tained by thy power, and animated by thy 
Spirit. May they go forth, preaching repent¬ 
ance for the remission of sins. May they go 
forth, making disciples of all nations, baptizing 
them in the name of the Father, and of the 
Son, and of the Holy Ghost; until the king¬ 
doms of the world become the kingdoms of 
Christ, and righteousness and peace cover the 
face of the earth, as the waters cover the sea. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We bless thee, heavenly Father, for the 
mercies bestowed upon us this day. We 
humble ourselves before thee as unworthy sin¬ 
ners, beseeching thee to watch over us this 
night, and to protect us from all the evils to 
which we may be exposed. Above all, keep 
us from sin, and from all the wiles of the ad¬ 
versary. Let us repose under the shadow of 
thy wing, till every danger be over, and we are 
brought again before thee, to renew our prayers 
and praises, and to enter again upon our re¬ 
spective duties. 

We ask for all, in the name and for the sake 
of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee, 
O Father, and thee, O Holy Ghost, be all 
honor and glory, world without end. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 



ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


41 


Saturday Morning. 


O Lord God Almighty, we bless thee for 
another opportunity of coming into thy pres¬ 
ence. W e adore thee, as the Creator and the 
Governor of the world. Thou hast abundantly 
provided for the wants of thy creatures. Thou 
hast ordered the day and the night to succeed 
each other; and when thou hast refreshed man 
with sleep, thou again permittest him to pursue 
his work until the evening. We bless thee for 
thy daily mercies; and especially that while 
thy providence provides our lot in this life, 
thou hast been graciously pleased to set before 
us, the joys and consolations of the world to 
come. We glorify thee for the gift of Jesus 
Christ thy Son, by whose gospel, life and im¬ 
mortality are brought to light, and through 
which we are instructed in those things which 
concern our salvation. TV e bless thee for the 
pardon of sin, through faith in the Redeemer; 
for the guidance and protection of thy provi¬ 
dence ; and for the consolations and teachings 
of thy Spirit. We thank thee for thy written 
word; for thy ministry and ordinances ; and 
for all the other means of grace which we are 
permitted to enjoy. 

Grant, we beseech thee, that we may this 
day pursue, with fidelity and diligence, our al- 








42 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


lotted work; and that, in the midst of our 
worldly occupations, we may be enabled, by 
thy help, to maintain a spiritual and heavenly 
mind. Let us remember the solemn truth, that 
in the midst of life we are in death ; and let 
us so live this day, that if it should prove our 
last, it may not be spent in vain. Save us from 
the sins which most easily beset us. Leave us 
not to the natural dispositions of our own 
hearts, which are corrupt and ever inclining us 
to evil: But put thy Spirit within us, and 
teach us to cultivate every Christian temper, 
and to abound in every good work. Strength¬ 
en our faith in the glorious promises of the 
gospel; and fill us with such joy and peace in 
believing, that we may submit with cheerful 
resignation to any sacrifice which, in thy holy 
providence, thou shalt require of us. Dispose 
us to bear affliction, with a patient and humble 
spirit: Or, if thou shouldst give us prosperity, 
make us ever watchful over ourselves, and teach 
us moderation in our enjoyments. Let us im¬ 
part freely to others, the good gifts which thou 
bestowest upon us. Inspire us with zeal in the 
fulfillment of our relative duties ; with integrity 
in our dealings; and the spirit of kindness to 
all men. Let us faithfully examine ourselves ; 
that so, advancing daily in self-knowledge, we 
may finally prevail over our several infirmities. 
Thus may we grow in grace, and in all good- 










ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 43 

ness, and in fitness and preparation for thy 
heavenly kingdom. 

We pray for thy blessing on all our friends 
and relations. May they be filled with a 
knowledge of thy will, in all wisdom and spirit¬ 
ual understanding ; and may we, and they, be 
of one heart and one mind, loving each other 
as brethren in Christ, and uniting our endeavors 
to promote the glory of God, and the good of 
mankind. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Have mercy on the poor and the afflicted; 
strengthen the weak ; succor the tempted ; and 
guide the ignorant into the way of knowledge. 
Bless the rising generation ; save them from 
the dangers of this evil world; sanctify to them 
the events which shall befall them ; make them 
instruments in thy hand for the advancement 
of the interests of thy Church on earth, and 
qualify them by thy grace, to become members 
of thy blessed family in heaven. 

We offer these our humble and imperfect 
prayers, in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord 
and Saviour. Amen . 

Our Father, &o. 

The grace, &c. 








44 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


Saturday Evening . 

O God, who hast appointed a day in which 
thou wilt judge the world in righteousness, give 
us grace so to try and judge ourselves, that we 
be not finally condemned at the judgment seat 
of Christ. Dispose us daily to examine both 
our hearts and lives, by the rule of thy holy 
law; remembering always, that our most secret 
thoughts are open to thee, and that nothing is 
hidden from thy view. Grant us true and sin¬ 
cere repentance for whatever sins we have 
committed against thee, either in thought, 
word, or deed; and for thy dear Son’s sake, 
forgive us all our transgressions. 

We confess that we too easily forget the 
prize of our high calling in Christ Jesus. Thou 
hast sent thy Son from heaven to save us. 
Thou hast invited us by thy promises, and re¬ 
strained us by the admonitions of thy word. 
Thou hast set before us an inheritance incor¬ 
ruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not 
away: And thou hast warned us of a worm that 
never dieth, and of a fire that is not quenched. 
Suffer us not to harden our hearts against thy 
invitations and threatenings. May thy Holy 
Spirit impress our minds with a deep sense of 
the importance of eternal things. May we 
labor to make our calling and election sure. 
May we be diligent, while the day of proba- 







ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


45 


tion remains; knowing that we must soon put 
off these mortal bodies, and that the coming 
of our Lord Jesus Christ is at hand. 

We thank thee for the rest and comforts of 
thy holy sabbaths; for the gift of thy sacred 
word; for the ministry and ordinances of thy 
Church ; for the abundant light and knowledge 
shed abroad in our land ; and for every oppor¬ 
tunity of becoming wise unto salvation. Give 
us grace so to improve these great benefits, 
that we finally fall not under thy just condem¬ 
nation. 

Assist us, this night, to look up to thee with 
pure and humble hearts. Let us commit our¬ 
selves to thy gracious care and keeping ; 
sensible of thy constant presence with us; and 
earnestly desiring to partake both of thy favor 
here, and of those joys which are at thy right 
hand forevermore. And let not the cares and 
anxieties of life, nor the lawful pursuits in 
which we may engage, withdraw our medita¬ 
tions from the concerns of a better world. 

We pray thee to bestow thy blessing on our 
dear friends and relations ; on our country and 
constituted authorities; and on all for whom 
we are bound to pray. Pity those who are 
afflicted, and those who shall pass this night in 
watchfulness or pain. Succor the tempted. 
Give peace to those who are troubled in mind. 
Be thou a Father to the fatherless, and a God 
5 





46 ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 

of consolation to those who are desolate and 
oppressed. And give us all grace, that we 
may abound in charity one towards another, 
and do good unto all men, according to our 
Lord’s example and commandment. 
[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Pardon the imperfection of these our humble 
supplications; and grant unto us whatsoever 
things thou knowest to be needful for us, for 
the sake of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour. 
Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


For the Evening before Christmas. 


Almighty God and heavenly Father, we 
come before thee with fear and trembling. 
We are surrounded by the bounties of thy 
providence. We are refreshed and comforted 
by the visitations of thy Spirit. But we feel 
our unworthiness. We are bowed down under 
a sense of our guilt. Too often have we for¬ 
gotten thy goodness. Too often have our 
hearts been turned away from thee. Too 
often have we walked in the ways of the wick¬ 
ed, and neglected thy holy commandments. 
O God, look down upon us in pity, and pardon 










ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


47 


all our offences. For the sake of thy dear 
Son, whom thou hast sent to be a propitiation 
for our sins, be merciful unto us, and forgive us 
all our transgressions. We cast ourselves 
down, in humble dependence on thy protecting 
care this night. Guard us, we beseech thee, 
from all evil. Give rest to our wearied bodies, 
and peace and comfort to our burdened souls. 
Prepare our hearts, by thy grace, for the solem¬ 
nities of the ensuing day, and for the due 
commemoration of the wonders of redeeming 
love—the great mystery of godliness, God 
manifest in the flesh. Teach us to remember 
how low we were fallen, when thine Incarnate 
Son, Jesus Christ, came into the world, to save 
us from endless woe. Through his blessed 
mediation, thou hast delivered our souls from 
death, and our eyes from tears, and our feet 
from falling. We will give thanks unto thee, 
O Lord, for thou art gracious, and thy mercy 
endureth forever. Thou art our strength and 
our salvation. Thy right hand bringeth mighty 
things to pass. The same stone which the 
builders refused, has become the head of the 
corner. Grant, O God, that it may never 
prove to us a stone of stumbling and a rock of 
offence. Grant us grace to say, Blessed is he 
that cometh in the name of the Lord. Bles¬ 
sed is the day which God hath made glorious. 
Open unto us the gates of righteousness, that 







43 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


we may go into them, and give thanks unto the 
Lord. Slay we wash our hands in innocency, 
and so may we go to thine altar. May we 
receive the cup of salvation, and pay our vows 
unto thee in the presence of all thy people. 
May we offer the sacrifice of praise and thanks¬ 
giving in the house of the Lord, and call 
faithfully upon thy name. 

Grant, heavenly Father, that the light of the 
blessed gospel may shine upon all nations; that 
darkness may no longer cover the earth, nor 
thick darkness the people. May the Gentiles 
come to the light, and all the kingdoms of the 
earth to the knowledge of the truth. Cause all 
men to know thee, from the greatest to the 
least. Let them gather themselves together, 
and come unto thee. Let them fly as a cloud, 
and as doves to their windows. And hasten, 
O Lord, the fulfillment of thy promise, that a 
little one shall become a thousand, and a small 
one a strong nation. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We commend to thy mercy and grace, all 
who are near and dear to us. Be thou, O 
God, their strength and defence, and everlast¬ 
ing consolation, through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
to whom, with thee, O Father, and the Holy 
Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without 
end. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 







ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


49 


Christmas Day — Morning. 

Glory be to thee, O God. We praise thee, 
we bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify 
thee, we give (hanks unto thee, for thy great 
glory, O Lord God, heavenly King, God the 
Father Almighty. Accept, we beseech thee, 
our humble thanks for thy manifold and great 
mercies. We bless thee especially for thine 
unspeakable love, in sending, as on this day, 
thy well-beloved Son, to take our nature upon 
him, and to be made in the likeness of sinful 
flesh, that he might save us from our sius. We 
rejoice, that unto us a child is born ; that unto 
us a Son is given. With the multitude of the 
heavenly host, we joyfully unite in ascribing 
glory to thee in the highest, for peace on earth, 
and good will towards men. We praise thee 
for revealing to us the great mystery of godli¬ 
ness, by which mercy and truth have met 
together, and righteousness and peace have 
embraced each other. Help us, O God, to 
employ this day in meditating on this great 
work of redemption, that so we may give unto 
thee the glory due unto thy name, apd offer 
unto thee an acceptable worship. 

O thou great and glorious Redeemer, we 
adore thee for thy wonderful condescension, 

5 * 






50 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS-EPIPHANY. 


in leaving the glory which thou hadst with 
the Father, before the world began. Though 
thou wast rich, yet for our sakes, thou didst 
become poor, that we, through thy poverty, 
might be made rich. We beseech thee by the 
mystery of thy holy incarnation and nativity, 
to deliver us from all iniquity. O Son of Da¬ 
vid, have mercy upon us. Thou, who didst 
come that w T e might have life, and have it 
more abundantly, be gracious unto us. Thou, 
who wast called Jesus, that thou mightest save 
thy people from their sins, save us, and help us, 
we humbly beseech thee. Grant that we, being 
regenerate, and made thy children by adoption 
and grace, may daily be renewed by thy Holy 
Spirit, and follow the blessed steps of thy most 
holy life. 

Grant us, O Lord, thy special blessing this 
day. May we pour out our hearts before thee, 
with joy and praise, in the congregation of thy 
people. And may we, on every return of this 
season, so profit by the holy institutions of the 
Church in which thy good providence hath 
placed us, that when Christ, who is our life, 
shall appear a second time, we may also ap¬ 
pear with him in glory. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Hear us further, heavenly Father, and grant 
that the glad tidings which we commemorate 
this day, may be made known to all peo- 





ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


51 


pie. Let the promised seed of the woman 
bruise the serpent’s head. May the root 
which hath sprung out of Jesse, send forth 
branches on the right hand and on the left; 
and may the natural branches, which have 
been so long broken off, even thy people Israel, 
be again grafted on their own olive tree. 
Have compassion, also, on those who have 
never heard of the coming of our blessed Lord 
in the flesh. In him who hath risen to rule 
over the Gentiles, let the Gentiles trust, and 
find his rest to be glorious. Mercifully with 
thy favor look upon the whole Christian world. 
May all that name the name of Christ depart 
from iniquity. Especially preserve them from 
turning this sacred season into an occasion of 
revelling and unholy mirth. Let them, as 
Christians, rejoice in Christ their Saviour ; and 
let thy grace teach them to deny all ungodli¬ 
ness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, 
righteously, and godly, in this present world. 

We ask for all in the name of Him, in whom 
dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead, Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 





52 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


Christmas Day — Evening. 

Almighty and merciful God, who art of 
purer eyes than to behold iniquity, we approach 
thy throne in humble reliance on thy long-suf¬ 
fering mercy and goodness. We acknowledge 
our unworthiness, and hope for acceptance, 
only through the gracious intercession of our 
Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Thou de- 
clarest thy almighty power, chiefly in showing 
mercy and pity. Thou hast not stretched 
forth the right hand of thy majesty, to avenge 
thee of thine enemies; but with thine own 
arm thou hast wrought out redemption for us. 
Thou hast not sent thy Son into the world, to 
condemn the world, but that the world through 
him might be saved. 

We bless thee for revealing to us this great 
mystery, which was hid from ages and genera¬ 
tions, but is now made manifest to the sons of 
men. We rejoice that unto us was born, as 
on this day, a Saviour, which is Christ the 
Lord. Our souls do magnify the Lord, and 
our spirits do rejoice in God our Saviour. 
Blessed be thou, the God of Israel, for visiting 
and redeeming thy people, and raising up a 
mighty salvation for them; for performing the 
promise made unto their fathers, and for keep- 






ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


53 


ing in remembrance thy holy covenant. 
Praised be thy name for sending forth in the 
fulness of time, thy only begotten Son, made 
of a woman, made under the law, that we 
might receive the adoption of sons. Glory be 
unto thee, for causing thy loving kindness 
towards us to appear. 

O thou, who wast in Christ, reconciling the 
world unto thyself, not imputing their tres¬ 
passes unto them, forgive us all our transgres¬ 
sions. Through him, who was made in the 
likeness of sinful flesh, and came to seek and 
to save that which was lost, have mercy upon 
us. By the mystery of his holy incarnation 
and nativity, good Lord deliver us. And 
since thy blessed Son was manifested, that he 
might destroy the works of the devil, and make 
us the children of God, and heirs of eternal life, 
grant, we beseech thee, that having this hope, 
we may purify ourselves, even as he is pure; 
and that, when he shall come again, in power 
and great glory, we may be made like unto him 
in his eternal and glorious kingdom. 

[Occasional prayers, &c.] 

We pray thee, heavenly Father, that 
through thy tender mercies, the day-spring 
from on high, which hath visited us, may arise 
and shine upon the nations that are sitting in 
darkness, and in the shadow of death, to guide 
their feet into the way of peace. Grant that 







54 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


it may be, both a light to lighten the Gentiles, 
and the glory of thy people Israel. Raise up, 
we beseech thee, faithful and able ministers of 
the New Testament, to go before the face of 
the Lord, to prepare his ways, to give know¬ 
ledge of salvation to his people, by the remis¬ 
sion of their sins. 

Pour down thy grace and heavenly benedic¬ 
tion upon all who are called Christians. May 
the children of Zion be joyful in their King ! 
And may they so truly follow the blessed steps 
of their Lord and Master, that they may be 
saved by his mercy, in the great day of his ap¬ 
pearing and glory. Grant this, for Jesus 
Christ’s sake, our only Lord and Saviour. 
Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection, 
we commit ourselves, and all who are dear to 
us. The Lord bless us and keep us. The 
Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be 
gracious unto us. The Lord lift up his coun¬ 
tenance upon us, and give us peace both now 
and evermore. Amen . 







ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 55 


Last Evening of the Year . 

Almighty and eternal Lord of heaven and 
earth, with whom is no variableness, neither 
shadow of turning, who art the same, yester¬ 
day, and to-day, and forever, and whose years 
fail not—from everlasting to everlasting thou 
art God. 

Accept, we beseech thee, our sacrifice of 
praise and thanksgiving, for thy goodness and 
mercy, which have followed us all our days. 
We especially bless thee for delivering us from 
the perils and dangers of the year that is now 
drawing to a close. Not by our own strength, 
nor for our righteousness, have we been spared. 
But because thy compassions fail not, and for 
thy mercy’s sake, we have not been consumed. 
Our sins are all naked and open unto thee, 
from our youth up until now. We humble 
ourselves before thee, confessing and bewail¬ 
ing all that we have done amiss. Enter not 
into judgment with us: but spare us, accord¬ 
ing to thy great goodness. According to the 
multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out our 
offences. Pardon and accept us, for the sake 
of thy only begotten Son, whom thou didst 
send into the world, to take our nature upon 
him, that he might redeem us unto thee by his 
blood. Turn us from our iniquities ; wash us 






56 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


thoroughly from our wickedness ; and cleanse 
us from our sins; and let them all be buried 
with the closing year, to rise up against us no 
more forever. 

Keep us mindful, O Lord, as the years of 
our life pass away, that the end of all things is 
at hand ; and make us sober and watchful 
unto prayer. May we never forget, that we 
are strangers and pilgrims upon earth, and 
that here we have no continuing city; and 
may we learn diligently to seek one to come. 
Our years pass away like a shadow, or a va¬ 
por, which appeareth for a little time, and then 
vanisheth away. Lord, teach us so to remem¬ 
ber our days, that we may apply our hearts 
unto wisdom. Make us to know our end, and 
the measure of our days, that we may con¬ 
sider how frail we are, and may be admonished 
to redeem the time that remains. Give us 
grace to watch and pray, since we know 
neither the day, nor the hour, when the 
Son of man cometh. May we be always 
ready, with our loins girt about, and our lights 
burning: that whensoever he may say, Be¬ 
hold, I come quickly, we may be able to reply, 
Even so, come Lord Jesus. Above all, we 
beseech thee to preserve in our minds, a lively 
remembrance, that it is appointed unto us once 
to die, and after death the judgment; and that 
we shall, every one, receive the things done in 





ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


57 


the body, according to that we have done, 
whether it be good or whether it be evil. 
May we so regard thy threatenings and prom¬ 
ises, that when we die, we may die the death 
of the righteous, and our last end be like his. 
Help us to fight the good fight, to finish our 
course, and to keep the faith, that there may 
be laid up for us a crown of righteousness, 
which thou, the righteous and merciful Judge, 
will give unto us in that day. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Hear our intercession, O Lord, for all who 
are partakers of the same frail nature with our¬ 
selves. Take the little children into the arms 
of thy mercy, and bless and preserve them. 
Look in tender compassion upon those who 
are in the morning of their years. May they 
remember their Creator in the days of their 
youth, before the evil days come and the years 
draw nigh, of which they shall say, there is no 
pleasure in them. May they seek thee early, 
and become, in name and in truth, thy sons and 
daughters. May they grow in wisdom, as they 
grow in years, and in favor with thee and man. 
Mercifully regard, also, such as are in the 
strength and vigor of life ; and dispose them 
to give unto thee the best of their days. Last¬ 
ly, we pray thee to remember those whose 
strength is now but labor and sorrow. Enable 
them to bring forth fruit in their old age, 
6 











53 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


according to the ability which yet remains. 
May they come to their graves at last, as a 
shock of corn cometh in his season. When 
their flesh and their heart fail them, be thou the 
strength of their heart, and their portion for¬ 
ever. Grant all this, for the sake of Jesus 
Christ our Lord. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection, 
we commit ourselves, and all for whom we are 
bound to pray. The Lord bless us and keep 
us. The Lord make his face to shine upon us, 
and be gracious unto us. The Lord lift up 
his countenance upon us, and give us peace, 
both now and evermore. Amen . 


First Morning of the Year. 

Almighty and everlasting God, who livest 
and abidest forever—with whom one day is as 
a thousand, and a thousand years as one day— 
who wast, and who art, and who art to come 
—thou hast made our days as it were a span 
long: Our age is as nothing in respect of thee ; 
and verily every man living is altogether vanity. 
Sin having entered into the world, and death 






ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


59 


by sin, we consume away in thy displeasure; 
and are afraid at thy wrathful indignation. 
Thou hast set our misdeeds before thee, and 
our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 
When thou art angry, all our days are gone; 
we bring our years to an end, as it were a tale 
that is told. But we bless thee, O Lord, for 
thy continued goodness and forbearance. We 
bless thee, that though in Adam all die, even 
so in Christ shall all be made alive. We praise 
thee for the gift of him, who was manifest in 
the flesh, that he might destroy death ; and 
hath brought life and immortality to light by 
the gospel; in whom whosoever believeth 
shall live, though he die ; and whosoever livetli 
and believeth in him shall not die eternally. 
We give thee thanks, also, heavenly Father, 
for sparing us from year to year, and for giving 
us further space for trial and amendment. 
And we beseech thee still to spare us, O Lord 
most holy, O God most mighty; and, at last, 
to deliver us from the bitter pains of eternal 
death. 

May thy great goodness lead us to repent¬ 
ance. With this new year, may we begin a 
new life, and engage in our Christian course 
with fresh ardor. Quicken us in the way of 
righteousness, and enable us to present our¬ 
selves a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto 
thee, which is our reasonable service. And, 






60 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHAN Y. 


as on this day, thou didst make thy blessed 
Son to be circumcised, and obedient to the law 
for man, we beseech thee to grant unto us the 
true circumcision of the spirit; that our hearts 
and all our members being mortified from all 
worldly and carnal lusts, we may in all things 
obey thy blessed will. 

O Lord, let us never forget the solemn and 
affecting truth, that this year may be our last. 
May we not boast ourselves even of to-morrow; 
for we know not what a day may bring forth, 
and there may be but a step between us and 
death. Enable us to work while it is called to¬ 
day, before the night cometh, when no man 
can work. Whatever good our hand findeth 
to do, may we do it with all our might; for 
there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, 
nor wisdom, in the grave, whither we are 
going. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Grant thy blessing, heavenly Father, to our 
fellow-creatures, and especially our friends and 
relatives, according to their several necessities. 
Be merciful to those who have lived all the 
years of their life, in carelessness and sin. 
Give them grace to think on their ways, and 
to turn their feet unto thy testimonies, before 
the things that belong to their peace be forever 
hidden from their eyes. Turn the hearts of 
those who have set their affections on this 










ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 61 

world, and are minding only earthly things. 
Touch the minds of all who are putting off 
their repentance from year to year, with the 
awful thought, that hereafter they may find no 
place for repentance, though they may seek it 
carefully, and with tears. Cause them to see, 
that now is the accepted time, that now is the 
day of salvation. Look in pity upon those 
who, having once escaped the pollution of the 
world, are again entangled therein and over¬ 
come. Burst their chains of bondage, and 
bring them into the perfect liberty of thy chil¬ 
dren. Be gracious unto all who have chosen 
that good part, which none can take from 
them. May they go on from strength to 
strength, till every one of them appear before 
thee in Zion. Finally, we beseech thee to 
look with special favor upon those, the days of 
whose pilgrimage are drawing to a close, and 
the time of whose departure is at hand. Even 
in their old age be thou with them; and in 
their hoary hairs do thou support them. And, 
when thou hast guided them here by thy coun¬ 
sel, receive them hereafter to the kingdom of 
thy glory, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen. 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


6* 







62 


ADVENT—CHRISTMAS—EPIPHANY. 


Epiphany — Morning. 


[To be used with the other prayers, in the morning of the Feast of Epiph¬ 
any, the 6th of January, whether it falls on Sunday or any other day.] 


O God, who by the leading of a star, didst 
manifest thy only begotten Son to the Gentiles; 
mercifully grant that we, who know thee now 
by faith, may after this life have the fruition of 
thy glorious Godhead, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen . 











LENT. 


Ash- Wednesday Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

O most mighty God and merciful Father, 
who hast compassion upon all men, and liatest 
nothing that thou hast made ; we humble our¬ 
selves before thee, acknowledging our sinful¬ 
ness, and seeking mercy and forgiveness at thy 
hands. Thou hast no pleasure in the death of 
him that dieth ; and hast graciously invited us, 
in thy holy word, to turn unto thee and live. 
The sacrifices of a broken and contrite spirit, 
thou wilt not despise. Give us grace, heavenly 
Father, that w r e may come unto thee, weary 
and heavy-laden with the burden of our sins, 
and thus find rest to our souls. Enter not into 
judgment with us, thy unworthy servants. 
Mercifully forgive us our trespasses. In thy 
tender compassion receive and comfort us ; 
and through the merits and mediation of thy 
blessed Son, absolve us from all our offences. 


64 


LENT. 


O Lord, show thy mercy upon us, and grant 
us thy salvation. Turn thy face from our sins, 
and blot out all our iniquities. Send help 
from thy holy place, and let our sighing come 
before the. 

Grant, O Lord, that this day may be unto 
us, such a fast as thou hast chosen. May the 
ministers of thy word blow the trumpet in 
Zion, and sound an alarm in thy holy mountain, 
and call a solemn assembly and gather the peo¬ 
ple. And we beseech thee, heavenly Father, 
to look down with pity and compassion upon 
all those who present themselves before thee 
this day, in true penitence and contrition of 
heart. Thou knowest all their infirmities, and 
all their wants. Be thou a present God, to 
help them in their weakness, and to supply 
their necessities. Thou art a merciful God, 
full of compassion, long-suffering, and of great 
kindness. Thou sparest, when we deserve 
punishment, and in the midst of thy judgments 
thou rememberest mercy. Spare thy people, 
who turn to thee in fasting, and weeping, and 
mourning. Receive with favor, the prayers 
and supplications of thy servants, who shall 
this day intercede for perishing sinners. And 
what prayer and supplication soever be made 
by any man, or by all thy people, who shall 
know every man the plague of his own heart, 
and spread forth his hands in thy house, then 






LENT. 


65 

hear thou in heaven thy dwelling-place, and 
forgive, and do, and give to every man accord¬ 
ing to his ways, whose heart thou knowest. 
[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sake didst 
fast forty days and forty nights; give us grace 
to use such abstinence, that our flesh, being 
subdued by the Spirit, we may ever obey thy 
godly motions in righteousness and true holi¬ 
ness, to thy honor and glory, who livest and 
reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, 
one God, world without end. Amen . 


Ash Wednesday Evening. 


O most merciful God, who according to 
the multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away 
the sins of those who truly repent, that thou 
rememberest them no more; open thine eye 
of mercy upon us thy servants. We most 
earnestly desire pardon and forgiveness, for all 
that thou hast seen amiss in us this day. Re¬ 
new in us, heavenly Father, whatsoever hath 
been impaired by the fraud and malice of the 
devil, or by our own carnal will and frailty. 
Keep us in the faith, and in the unity of thy 
holy Church. Impute not unto us our former 







66 


LENT. 


sins; but strengthen us by thy holy Spirit; 
and fit and prepare us to dwell with thee for¬ 
ever. 

O God, who sparest when we deserve pun¬ 
ishment, and in thy wrath rememberest mercy; 
we humbly beseech thee, of thy great good¬ 
ness, to comfort and succor us, in all our trou¬ 
bles and adversities, whensoever they oppress 
us. Correct us not in thine anger, neither 
chasten us in thy heavy displeasure. Give 
us a right understanding of thy threats and 
promises; that we may neither cast away our 
confidence in thee, nor place it anywhere but 
in thee. Relieve the distressed ; protect the 
innocent; and awaken the careless and negli¬ 
gent. And forasmuch as thou alone canst 
bring light out of darkness, and good out of 
evil, grant that the trials and troubles which 
we may endure, may tend to purify our hearts, 
and set us free from the bondage of sin, and 
the wiles of the adversary. Show thy ser¬ 
vants the light of thy countenance, and save 
us for thy mercies’ sake. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Grant, O Lord, that the solemn season on 
which we have now entered, may prove a 
time of refreshing to our souls. Give unto us 
a spirit of prayer and supplication; that we 
may approach thy throne with humble rever¬ 
ence and godly fear; and hearken unto our 






LENT. 


67 

voice, O Lord, when we cry unto thee. 
Make us a clean heart, O God, and renew a 
right spirit within us. Help us to call our 
past ways to remembrance, that we may chas¬ 
ten our souls, under a sense of our manifold 
transgressions. Help us to meditate on all 
thy goodness and forbearance, while we have 
rebelled against thee, and provoked thee to 
anger. Help us to confess and forsake our 
sins, that thou mayest have mercy upon us. 
Be not displeased with us forever. Turn our 
hearts unto thee, and let thine anger cease 
from us. Help us to keep a watch over our 
hearts, and over all our future ways; that so 
we may serve thee in righteousness and holi¬ 
ness all the days of our life. 

O Almighty God, who art a most strong 
tower to all who put their trust in thee; to 
whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under 
the earth, do bow and obey ; we commend to 
thy gracious care and protection, all our dear 
relatives and friends, both present and absent. 
Be now and evermore our defence ; and make 
us to know and to feel that there is none other 
name under heaven given to man, in whom 
and through whom we may receive salvation, 
but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

And in this all-prevailing name, we con¬ 
clude our petitions:— 

Our Father, &c. 









68 


LENT. 


Sunday Morning. 


Our Father, &c. 

Almighty God, Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, Maker of all things, Judge of all men ; 
we acknowledge our manifold sins and bewail 
our wickedness. We humble ourselves be¬ 
fore thee, as unworthy transgressors, who have 
grievously rebelled against thee. By unholy 
thoughts, by evil words, by unrighteous deeds, 
we have offended thy divine majesty, and pro¬ 
voked thy wrath and indignation against us. 
But, O Lord, we beseech thee, to bow down 
thine ear and bear us. Comfort the souls of 
thy servants; for we lift up our hearts unto 
thee. We do earnestly repent, and are heart¬ 
ily sorry for all our misdoings: The remem¬ 
brance of them is grievous unto us : The bur¬ 
den of them is intolerable. O Lord, enter 
not into judgment with us; but deliver us, 
and be merciful unto us, for thy name’s sake. 
Thy property is always to have mercy, 
^pare us, therefore, good Lord ; spare thy peo¬ 
ple, whom thou hast redeemed with thy most 
precious blood, and be not angry with us for¬ 
ever. Create and make in us new and con¬ 
trite hearts, that we, worthily lamenting our 
sins, and acknowledging our wretchedness, 






LENT. 


69 


may oblain of thee, the God of all mercy, 
perfect remission and forgiveness, through Je¬ 
sus Christ our Lord. 

O God, we bless thee for thy great mercy, 
in bringing us to the beginning of this holy 
day. We adore thee for thy patience and 
forbearance, in all thy dealings with us, thy 
unworthy servants. And we beseech thee to 
pour out upon us the abundance of thy grace, 
that we may faithfully devote this day to the 
sacred purposes for which thou hast appointed 
it. Permit us to assemble together in thy 
house of prayer. There may we draw near 
to thee, and worship and fall down before thee, 
the Lord our Maker. There may we offer the 
sacrifice of a broken spirit. There may we 
confess our sins. There may we hear the 
comfortable tidings of thy gospel. There may 
we partake of all thy mercies in Christ Jesus, 
and wash in the fountain of that blood which 
cleanseth from all sin. 

[Occasional Prayers, Sl c.] 

O God, make this a day of rest and spirit¬ 
ual refreshment, to those whose souls have a 
desire and longing to enter into thy courts. 
Remember them in mercy; and guide and direct 
them, by thy heavenly grace, in their private 
meditations; and let their prayers come up 
before thee as incense, and the lifting up of 
their hands as an acceptable sacrifice. 

7 


LENT. 


to 

Look with pity and compassion, O Lord, 
upon those who disregard and profane this 
sacred day. Awaken them to a sense of their 
guilt and their danger. Give them true re¬ 
pentance; that they may turn away from all 
their wickedness, and henceforth w alk in the 
way of thy commandments. 

To all who are near and dear to us, heavenly 
Father, extend thy mercies. Govern and sup¬ 
port them in prosperity and in tribulation ; in 
health and in sickness ; in the hour of death, 
and in the day of judgment. 

We ask for all, in the name and for the 
sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with 
thee, O Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all 
honor and glory, world without end. Amen . 


Sunday Evening. 


O Lord, God of our salvation, we present 
our supplications before thee; knowing that 
thy arm is not shortened, that it can not save, 
nor thy ear heavy, that it can not hear. Let 
our prayer enter into thy presence, and incline 
thine ear unto our calling. Let not our in¬ 
iquities separate between us and thee our God, 









LENT. 


71 


nor our sins cause thee to hide thy face from 
us. Cast us not away from thy presence, and 
take not thy holy Spirit from us. 

We acknowledge, merciful Father, the im¬ 
perfection of our best services, during the day 
which is now closing. The wanderings of our 
thoughts, the coldness of our devotions, our 
carelessness, and negligence, and hardness, are 
all known to thee. Pardon, O Lord, all our 
weaknesses and infirmities, and quicken us to 
greater diligence and fidelity in the perform¬ 
ance of our duty to thee, to our neighbor, and 
to ourselves. Enable us to devote ourselves, 
with all our powers and faculties, to thee and 
thy service. May we keep in lively remem¬ 
brance the truths which have been delivered to 
us this day ; that the words which we have 
heard with our outward ears, may be engrafted 
inwardly in our hearts, and bring forth in us 
the fruit of good living. Give us thy holy 
Spirit, to enlighten our understanding, and 
purify our hearts ; that all our wishes and 
desires may centre in what thou hast com¬ 
manded. Make us instrumental, according to 
our ability and opportunity, in promoting the 
salvation of all men, and especially those who 
are the most closely united to us in the bonds 
of friendship and society. Be thou ever with 
us in the performance of our several duties ; in 
prayer, to quicken our devotions; in praises, 









72 


LENT. 


to heighten our love and gratitude ; and in all 
our works, to set a bright example to those 
around us. 

We intercede with thee, heavenly Father, 
for thy Church militant here on earth ; lor her 
ministers and people; and for all who profess 
and call themselves Christians. Guard thy 
flock, O thou gracious Bishop and Shepherd 
of our souls, from all false doctrine, heresy, 
and schism; from hardness of heart, and con¬ 
tempt of thy word and commandment. And 
illuminate, we beseech thee, all Bishops, 
Priests, and Deacons, with true knowledge and 
understanding of thy word ; that through their 
faithful preaching and good example, all thy 
people may increase in grace, and meekly hear 
thy word, and receive it with pure affection, 
and bring forth abundantly the fruits of the 
Spirit. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Almighty God, we commit ourselves to thy 
care and keeping this night. We are weak 
and defenceless, exposed to dangers on every 
side, and unable to help ourselves. Keep us 
outwardly in our bodies, during the unguarded 
hours of repose; that no evil may befall us, 
nor any alarm or terror disturb us. Keep us 
also inwardly in our souls ; that no wicked or 
hurtful thoughts, no corrupt imaginations, no 
wiles of the adversary, may assail us. Defend 



LENT. 


73 


us from all adversities; and bring us in peace 
and safety to the beginning of another day ; 
that being refreshed in body, and strengthened 
by thy Spirit in the inner man, we may enter 
upon our respective duties with increasing trust 
and confidence in thy mercy, and with renew¬ 
ed purposes of serving thee faithfully and truly 
to the end of our days. We ask these blessings 
for ourselves, and for all our friends, relatives, 
and brethren, for the sake of Jesus Christ our 
Lord, in whose name and words we conclude 
our petitions:— 

Our Father, &c. 


Monday Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

O God, heavenly Father, who makest the 
outgoings of the morning and evening to praise 
thee, accept our hearty thanks for all thy mer¬ 
cies, and especially for the rest and refreshment 
of the past night. With this renewed token 
of thy goodnes§, give lls newness of heart to 
serve thee. Look with favor upon our earnest 
desires, and stretch forth the right hand of thy 
majesty, to be our unfailing defence and pro¬ 
tection. Help us to amend our ways and 
our doings; that we may obey thy voice, and 
7 * 











74 


LENT. 


walk in the way that thou hast commanded us ; 
that thou mayest be our God, and we may be 
thy people. Turn us from all our sins, that we 
may keep thy statutes, and do that which is 
lawful and right, and save our souls alive. 

O blessed Jesus, grant us grace, so to con¬ 
fess thee before men, that thou mayest confess 
us before thy Father in heaven. Make us 
watchful and circumspect, that we fall not 
again into our former transgressions. Endue 
us with strength and fortitude, to take up our 
cross daily and follow thee, whithersoever thy 
voice shall call us. May we he strong, O 
Lord, in the power of thy might. May we 
put on the whole armor of God, and fight 
manfully against our spiritual enemies. With 
the girdle of truth ; the breast-plate of right¬ 
eousness ; the shield of faith ; the helmet of 
salvation ; and the sword of the Spirit; may 
we be able to stand against the fiery darts of 
the wicked, and all the wiles of the adversary. 

O holy, blessed, and Eternal Spirit; vouch¬ 
safe, we beseech thee, to direct, sanctify, and 
govern, both our hearts and bodies, in all the 
pursuits of this day. Quicken us to renewed 
diligence in our several duties; and make us 
just and upright in all our dealings ; and char¬ 
itable, kind, and compassionate in all the 
relations of life. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 




LENT. 


75 


O God, whose days are without end, and 
whose mercies can not be numbered; make us, 
at all times, and under all circumstances, duly 
sensible of the shortness and uncertainty of 
human life, and of the transitory nature of all 
earthly things. Thou hast made our days as 
it were a span long; and our age is even noth¬ 
ing in respect of thee ; and verily every man 
living, is altogether vanity. So teach us to 
number our days, that we may apply our hearts 
unto wisdom. Guide and direct us by thy 
powerful hand, as we pass through this vale of 
misery; that so we may serve thee in holiness 
and righteousness all the days of our life ; that 
when our probation shall be brought to a close, 
we may be gathered in peace to our fathers, 
having the testimony of a good conscience ; 
the witness of the Spirit that we are the chil¬ 
dren of God ; in the communion of the saints ; 
in the confidence of a living faith ; in the 
comfort of a reasonable, religious, and holy 
hope ; in favor with thee, our God, and in 
perfect charity with the world. 

All which we ask through Jesus Christ our 
Lord, to whom, with thee, O Father, and the 
Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world 
without end. Amen. 








76 


LENT. 


Monday Evening. 


Almighty and everlasting God, by whose 
merciful providence we are preserved from day 
to day, enable us to draw near to thee with 
reverence and godly fear. Thou knowest, O 
Lord, the secrets of every heart. Turn thee 
unto us, in loving kindness, and hearken unto 
our prayer. Pardon, we beseech thee, all the 
sins of this day. Thou art full of compassion 
and mercy, long suffering, and of great good¬ 
ness. Thou hast not dealt with us according 
to our sins, nor rewarded us according to our 
iniquities. Be gracious unto us, and look with 
pity on all our weaknesses and infirmities. 
Hide not thy face from us when we cry unto 
thee ; but refresh us with thy Spirit, and show 
us the light of thy countenance. By thy help 
alone, we are enabled to will and to do those 
things which are good and acceptable unto 
thee. Grant us thy continual mercy and grace. 
Let thy fatherly hand be ever over us, to sus¬ 
tain and support us. Let thy holy Spirit be 
ever with us, to guide, and direct, and lead us 
in the knowledge and obedience of thy word; 
that so in the end, we may obtain everlasting 
life. 





LENT. 


77 


To thy gracious care and protection, Heav¬ 
enly Father, we commit ourselves and all our 
friends and relatives, this night. Guard us, 
we beseech thee, from every danger: and 
bring us in peace and safety to the beginning 
of another day. And enable us, by thy grace, 
to walk worthy of the vocation wherewith we 
are called ; with lowliness and meekness; 
with long suffering, forbearing one another in 
love ; endeavoring to keep the unity of the 
Spirit, in the bond of peace ; till we all come, 
in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge 
of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the 
measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ. 

Give us grace to put off the old man, which 
is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts; 
that we may be renewed in the spirit of our 
mind, and may put on the new man, which 
after God, is created in righteousness and true 
holiness. 

Grant us, O God, according to the riches 
of thy grace, to be strengthened with might by 
thy Spirit in the inner man ; that Christ may 
dwell in our hearts by faith ; that we, being 
rooted and grounded in love, may be able to 
comprehend with all saints, what is the breadth, 
and length, and depth, and height ; and to 
know the love of Christ, which passeth know¬ 
ledge, that we may be filled with all the fulness 
of thee our God. 






78 


LENT. 


[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Now unto him that is able to do exceeding 
abundantly above all that we ask or think, 
according to the power that worketh in us, 
unto him be glory in the Church by Christ 
Jesus, throughout all ages, world without end. 
Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 


Tuesday Morning. 


O Almighty and most merciful God, we 
humble ourselves before thee as unworthy sin¬ 
ners. In thy great goodness, have mercy 
upon us, and hearken unto our prayer. We 
approach thy throne, in weakness, and infirm¬ 
ity, and in fear and trembling. We ask noth¬ 
ing for our own merits or righteousness: For 
we are a sinful people, laden with iniquity. 
But for thy dear Son’s sake, hide not thy face 
from us; but incline thine ear when we call 
upon thee in his all prevailing name. For his 
sake, help and deliver us. For his sake, have 
mercy upon us; O God, have mercy upon us. 

O God, look down in kindness and com¬ 
passion upon this nation. Bestow thy heav¬ 
enly grace on our civil rulers and magistrates; 






LENT. 


79 

that they may rule in thy fear, and in humble 
reliance on thy guidance and protection ; 
that so, thy people, being secure through the 
protection of equal laws, and the administration 
of impartial justice, may joyfully serve thee in 
all godly quietness ; and live in love and unity 
with each other, and in peace and friendship 
with all mankind. Save us, O God, from sin, 
and all its evil consequences. Send us help 
from thy holy place, and evermore mightily 
defend us. Let the enemy have no advantage 
of us; nor the wicked come near to hurt us. 
Be unto us, O Lord, a strong tower; that thy 
people may rejoice in thee, and in the multi¬ 
tude of thy mercies find plenteous redemption. 

Merciful Lord, we beseech thee to cast the 
bright beams of light upon thy holy Church. 
Give to her Bishops and other Ministers, 
knowledge of thy will; and endue them with 
grace to preach thy word with faithfulness and 
zeal, and to set a bright example of blameless 
living, before the flocks committed to their 
trust. And grant that thy people, being right¬ 
ly instructed in the doctrines of thy word, 
may so walk in the light of thy truth, that they 
may at length attain to everlasting life, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O God, enable us to walk with watchful¬ 
ness and circumspection this day ; to guard 







80 


LENT. 


against the sins which most easily beset us ; 
to restrain every unholy passion ; to subdue 
the desires and appetites which war against 
the soul; to cultivate the virtues and graces of 
our Christian calling; and to adorn the doc¬ 
trine of God our Saviour in all things. May 
we never be ashamed to confess the faith of 
Christ crucified ; and we beseech thee, gra¬ 
cious God, to give us strength to fight man¬ 
fully under his banner, against sin, the world, 
and the devil, and to continue Christ’s faith¬ 
ful soldiers and servants unto our life’s end. 

We commend to thy mercy and grace, 
heavenly Father, all our relatives, friends and 
brethren, whether present or absent. May 
their repentance be perfect, and their faith 
strong, and their love fervent, and their hope 
steadfast; that so, they may live to thy glory, 
and at last be gathered with all the faithful to 
the mansions of everlasting bliss. 

We present these our humble and imperfect 
petitions, in the name and through the merits 
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 






lent. 


81 


Tuesday Evening . 

O Lord, God Almighty, gracious and mer¬ 
ciful, who art slow to anger, and of great 
kindness, let our prayer enter into thy pres¬ 
ence, and incline thine ear unto our calling. 
Thou desirest no sacrifice, else vrould we 
give it thee. The sacrifice of God is a troub¬ 
led spirit : A broken and a contrite heart, O 
God, thou wilt not despise. We acknowledge 
our faults, and our sin is ever before us. But, 
we beseech thee, rebuke us not in thine anger. 
Chasten us not in thy heavy displeasure: 
Have compassion upon us, and wash us thor¬ 
oughly from our wickedness, and cleanse us 
from our sins. Teach us thy ways, and lead 
us in the paths of righteousness. Guide us by 
thy counsel, and govern us by thy good Spirit. 
Enable us to draw near to thee at this time, 
with reverence and godly fear, that we may 
look for an answer of peace, through the merits 
and intercession of thy blessed Son our Saviour 
Jesus Christ. 

We thank thee, heavenly Father, for the 
daily blessings and bounties of thy good provi¬ 
dence. Our days are passing away like a 
shadow, and all flesh is withering like grass. 
We are admonished by every instance of mor¬ 
tality, of the shortness and uncertainty of hu- 







82 


LENT. 


man life, and of the transitory nature of all 
earthly things. But of thy great goodness, O 
Lord, our days are still prolonged. Thou art 
graciously pleased to give us farther space for 
repentance, and new opportunities for making 
our peace with thee. Grant us grace, we be¬ 
seech thee, so to improve the time that re¬ 
mains, that when our years shall come to an 
end, we may be well fitted and prepared for 
thy heavenly kingdom. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O Lord God, who hast taught us to make 
prayers and supplications for others as well as 
for ourselves, be graciously pleased to hear our 
intercessions for all men. Be merciful to our 
friends, relatives, and brethren. Keep them 
in safety during the perils of this night, and 
bring them in health and peace to the begin¬ 
ning of another day. Above all, guard them 
from the enticements of sin, and from the wiles 
of the adversary, that they may serve thee, the 
living God, in righteousness and holiness, all 
the days of their life. 

Show the light of thy countenance to those 
who fear thee, and hope in thy mercy. And 
to those who are in heaviness through manifold 
temptations, extend thy compassion and loving 
kindness. In the midst of the sorrows which 
they have in their hearts, let thy comforts re¬ 
fresh their souls. And may it please thee, O 






LENT. 


83 


Lord, who hast thyself suffered, being tempted, 
to succor them also that are tempted. 

Have pity, heavenly Father, upon those 
who have hitherto trodden under foot thy be¬ 
loved Son, and have counted the blood of the 
everlasting covenant an unholy thing, and are 
doing despite to the spirit of grace. Awaken 
them to true repentance and contrition of 
heart, that they may hereafter walk in newness 
of life, and serve thee acceptably all their days. 

And, O God, we beseech thee, have com¬ 
passion on those who have departed from the 
truth, and fallen away from the faith, and are 
sinning wilfully after having received the 
knowledge of the truth. Renew them again 
to repentance ; and grant that they may no 
more crucify thy dear Son, and put him to 
open shame ; but may from henceforth glorify 
God, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Wednesday Morning. 

O gracious and merciful God, who hast 
compassion upon all men, and hatest nothing 
that thou hast made ; we humble ourselves 
before thee, acknowledging our sinfulness, and 
seeking mercy and forgiveness at thy hands. 










84 


LENT. 


Thou hast no pleasure in the death of him 
that dieth ; and hast graciously invited us, in 
thy holy word, to turn unto thee and live. 
The sacrifices of a broken and contrite spirit, 
thou wilt not despise. Give us grace, heav¬ 
enly Father, that we may come unto thee, 
weary and heavy-laden with the burden of our 
sins, and thus find rest to our souls. Enter 
not into judgment with us, thy unworthy ser¬ 
vants. Mercifully forgive us our trespasses. 
In thy tender compassion, receive and comfort 
us ; and through the merits and mediation of 
thy blessed Son, absolve us from all our of¬ 
fences. O Lord, show thy mercy upon us, 
and grant us thy salvation. Turn thy face 
from our sins, and blot out all our iniquities. 
Send help from thy holy place, and let our 
supplications come acceptably before thee. 

Grant, O Lord, that this solemn season 
may be made profitable to the souls of thy peo¬ 
ple. Give power and grace to the ministers 
of thy word, that they may lift up the voice 
of warning, and admonish the impenitent and 
careless of their danger ; and awaken the neg¬ 
ligent and lukewarm to renewed diligence and 
fidelity in the duties of their calling. And we 
beseech thee, heavenly Father, to look down 
with pity and compassion upon all those who 
present themselves before thee in true peni¬ 
tence and contrition of heart. Thou knowest 







LENT. 


35 


all their infirmities, and all their wants. Be 
thou a present God, to help them in their 
weakness, and to supply their necessities. 
Thou art a merciful God, full of compassion, 
long-suffering, and of great kindness. Thou 
sparest, when we deserve punishment, and in 
the midst of thy judgments, thou rememberest 
mercy. Spare thy people, who turn to thee 
in a broken spirit. And, O God, receive with 
favor the prayers and supplications of thy ser¬ 
vants, who shall intercede for perishing sin¬ 
ners. And what prayer and supplication so¬ 
ever be made by any man, or by all thy peo¬ 
ple, who shall know every man the plague of 
liis own heart, and spread forth his hands be¬ 
fore thee ; then hear thou in heaven, thy dwel¬ 
ling-place, and forgive, and do, and give to 
every man according to his ways, whose heart 
thou knowest. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O Lord Jesus Christ, who for our sake didst 
fast forty days and forty nights ; give us grace 
to use such abstinence, that our flesh, being 
subdued by the Spirit, we may ever obey thy 
godly motions in righteousness and true holi¬ 
ness, to thy honor and glory, who livest and 
reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, 
one God, world without end. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


8 * 






86 


LENT. 


Wednesday Evening . 

O most merciful God, who, according to the 
multitude of thy mercies, dost so put away the 
sins of those who truly repent, that thou re- 
memberest them no more, open thine eye of 
mercy upon us thy servants. We most earn¬ 
estly desire pardon and forgiveness, for all that 
thou hast seen amiss in us this day. Renew 
in us, heavenly Father, whatsoever hath been 
impaired by the fraud and malice of the devil, 
or by our own carnal will and frailty. Keep 
us in the faith, and in the unity of thy holy 
Church. Impute not unto us our former sins ; 
but strengthen us by thy holy Spirit, and fit 
and prepare us to dwell with thee forever. 

O God, who sparest when we deserve pun¬ 
ishment, and in thy wrath rememberest mercy, 
we humbly beseech thee, of thy great good¬ 
ness, to comfort and succor us in all our trou¬ 
bles and adversities, whensoever they oppress 
us. Correct us not in thine anger, neither 
chasten us in thy heavy displeasure. Give us 
a right understanding of thy threats and prom¬ 
ises, that we may neither cast away our con¬ 
fidence in thee, nor place it anywhere but in 
thee. Relieve the distressed ; protect the in¬ 
nocent ; and awaken the careless and negli¬ 
gent. And forasmuch as thou alone canst 








LENT. 


87 


bring light out of darkness, and good out of 
evil, grant that the trials and troubles which 
we may endure, may tend to purify our hearts, 
and set us free from the bondage of sin and 
the wiles of the adversary. Show thy ser¬ 
vants the light of thy countenance, and save 
us for thy mercies’ sake. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Grant, O Lord, that this solemn season may 
prove a time of refreshing to our souls. Give 
unto us a spirit of prayer and supplication, 
that we may approach thy throne at all times 
with humble reverence and godly fear ; and 
hearken unto our voice, O Lord, when we cry 
unto thee. Make us a clean heart, O God, 
and renew a right spirit within us. Help us 
to call our past ways to remembrance, that we 
may chasten our souls, under a sense of our 
manifold transgressions. Help us to meditate 
on all thy goodness and forbearance, while we 
have rebelled against thee, and provoked thee 
to anger. Help us to confess and forsake our 
sins, that thou mayest have mercy upon us. 
Be not displeased with us forever. Turn our 
hearts unto thee, and let thine anger cease from 
us. Help us to keep a watch over our hearts, 
and over all our future ways; that so we may 
serve thee in righteousness and holiness all the 
days of our life. 

O Almighty God, who art a most strong 





38 


LENT. 


tower to all who put their trust in thee; to 
whom all things in heaven, in earth, and under 
the earth, do bow and obey; we commend to 
thy gracious care and protection, all our dear 
relatives and friends, both present and absent. 
Be now and evermore our defence ; and make 
us to know and to feel that there is none other 
name under heaven given to man, in whom 
and through whom we may receive salvation, 
but only the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

And in this all-prevailing name we conclude 
our petitions:— 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Thursday Morning. 


Almighty God and merciful Father, thou art 
our hope and our strong hold : thou art our 
God, in whom we will trust. Thou hast kept 
us through the dangers of the past night; 
Thou hast brought us in safety to the begin¬ 
ning of another day. For these, thy great 
mercies, we bless thee, we praise thee, we 
glorify thy name. May we come before thee, 
under a deep and humiliating sense of our 
unworthiness. Helpless and miserable sinners, 
we ask nothing for our own merits or deser- 











LENT. 


89 


vings. But we know, O Lord God, that thou 
art full of compassion and mercy, long-suffer¬ 
ing, and plenteous in goodness and truth. O 
turn thee unto us, therefore, in pity and for¬ 
bearance, and have mercy upon us. For the 
sake of thy dear Son, Jesus Christ, pardon our 
transgressions, and receive us graciously, and 
hear the supplications which we present unto 
thee in his all-prevailing name. 

And since we are by nature prone to evil, 
and unable of ourselves to purify our hearts, 
we pray thee, O God, to cleanse our thoughts 
by the powerful efficacy of thy grace, from all 
vain desires, and sinful imaginations. Grant 
unto us thy holy Spirit. May it dwell within 
us, as a spirit of purity and holiness, a spirit of 
truth and of wisdom, of peace also, and love, 
and of holy joy, and consolation. May we 
pass this day in humble consciousness of our 
dependence, in thankful remembrance of thy 
mercies, and in the diligent performance of thy 
commandments. May no evil thoughts, or 
angry passions, or distressing doubts or fears 
disturb us. May we serve thee, our God, with 
cheerfulness and fidelity; and live in peace, 
and charity, and brotherly love with all men. 
May we be kind and benevolent; patient 
under adversity, and thankful in prosperity; and 
pass all our days in sobriety, moderation, and 
temperance. 










90 


LENT. 


We pray thee, O Lord, so to animate our 
minds with the glorious hopes set before us in 
thy word, that all our present trials, and sacri¬ 
fices, and self-denials, may be borne with 
cheerful resignation and submission. May we 
count the loss of all things as nothing, in 
comparison with the inward satisfaction and 
joy, which the gospel affords in the midst of 
worldly disappointments. But, O God, deliv¬ 
er us, we beseech thee, from every false or 
delusive hope. Let us examine well our 
foundation; and let us remember, that other 
foundation can no man lay, than that which 
is laid, even Jesus Christ our Lord. On this 
foundation may we begin, and continue, and 
finish, all our doings; until every evil habit is 
destroyed, every sinful inclination cast out, 
every temptation overcome, and every terror 
done away; and until the Spirit itself bears 
witness with our spirit, that we are the chil¬ 
dren of God. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

To the care and protection of thy good 
providence, heavenly Father, we now com¬ 
mend ourselves, and all our relatives, friends, 
and brethren. Look with favor upon those 
who ask an interest in our prayers; and may 
our mutual and united supplications ascend to 
thy throne as acceptable incense, and receive 










LENT. 


91 


an answer of peace, through the merits and 
intercession of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. 
Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Thursday Evening. 


O merciful God and heavenly Father, 
Maker of all things, and Judge of all men, we, 
the helpless creatures of thy bounty, and the 
humble dependants on thy will, desire now to 
offer up our acknowledgments to thee, for all 
thy goodness, and especially for thy over-ruling 
care and protection during the past day. We 
approach thy throne as unworthy sinners, and 
implore thy forgiving mercy. We lament the 
trespasses which we daily commit against thee. 
Thou knowest all our infirmities, and seest 
all our hearts, and searchest out all our 
ways. Pity, we beseech thee, our blindness 
and ignorance, and our proneness to err 
from the paths' of uprightness. Our hearts 
are deceitful above all things, and desperately 
wicked; and we know not in how many 
things we constantly offend. But we beseech 
thee, for Jesus Christ’s sake, to pardon what- 













LENT. 


92 

ever evil we have thought, or said, or done 
this day. Turn away thy face from the mul¬ 
titude of our iniquities, and enable us to 
examine our hearts and lives by the light of 
thine unerring word, that we may repent and 
turn from our transgressions, that iniquity may 
not be our ruin. 

We pray thee to pour down upon us the 
gift of thy holy Spirit, that we may amend our 
ways, and purify our hearts, and walk before 
thee in newness of life. Teach us to improve 
the means of grace and knowledge with which 
we are favored : Remembering always, that 
unto whom much is given, of them will much 
be required. Let us not bury the talent which 
thou hast bestowed upon us, lest we stand 
condemned as unprofitable servants. As w T e 
have received Christ Jesus the Lord, so let us 
walk in him. May we cultivate those tempers, 
and abound in those works, which the gospel 
requires. May the graces of meekness and 
patience, of kindness and forbearance, of be¬ 
nevolence and charity, be the ornaments of 
our lives. Being established in the love of 
God, may we also love our fellow-men with 
pureness and singleness of heart: And let us 
abound in all the fruits of righteousness, w hich 
are by Jesus Christ, to the praise and glory of 
God. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 





LENT. 


93 


We beseech thee, heavenly Father, to bless 
unto us the events of thy holy providence ; and 
so to order all things, during the remainder of 
our days, that they may issue in our eternal 
good. Make us duly sensible at all times, of 
the shortness and uncertainty of human life. 
Teach us to realize the solemn truth, that we 
know not what a day may bring forth, or what 
shall be on the morrow. Sanctify to us all 
the vicissitudes through which we are called to 
pass, whether prosperity or adversity, health 
or sickness, joy or sorrow. May we consider 
all things as coming from thy fatherly hand; 
that we may neither repine under thy chastise¬ 
ments, nor prove forgetful of thy mercies. 
In cheerfulness and contentment; and in recon¬ 
ciliation with thee, our God, may we enjoy 
peace within ourselves, and live in perfect 
charity with all mankind. 

We ask for all, for ourselves, and in behalf 
of those who are near and dear to us, in the 
name of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and 
Saviour. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


9 






94 


LENT. 


Friday Morning. 

O most merciful God, behold with compas¬ 
sion thy weak and sinful creatures, waiting for 
thy blessing at the throne of grace. Grant us 
a spirit of prayer and supplication, that we 
may approach thee in a time acceptable, and 
offer unto thee the sincere devotions of hum¬ 
ble and contrite hearts. And hear us, we 
beseech thee, in loving kindness ; and in the 
multitude of thy tender mercies, draw nigh 
unto thy servants, whom thou hast redeemed 
with the precious blood of thy dear Son. 

We do not present our supplications, hoping 
to be heard for our own righteousness ; for we 
acknowledge that we are unworthy sinners, 
and can not justify ourselves in thy sight. But 
we bow the knee before thee in the name of 
him, whom thou thyself hast made the Lord 
our Righteousness: And through him we 
pray thee to show us thy mercy, and to grant 
us thy salvation. 

May we now go forth to the discharge of 
our several duties, in thy fear, and in humble 
dependence on thy protection. Grant us thy 
Holy Spirit, to guide and direct us in all the 
relations of life, and to restrain us from every 
vain and sinful indulgence. Enable us to ab¬ 
stain from those luxuries and pleasures which 






LENT. 


95 


turn away the heart from serving thee, and 
endanger the peace and welfare of the soul. 
Preserve us from the snares and enticements 
of the wicked. Keep our feet from falling, 
and our souls from death, that we may walk 
before thee in the light of the living. Dispose 
us, clay by day, to give all diligence, to add to 
our faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and 
to knowledge temperance, and to temperance 
brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness 
charity. Grant that these, and all other heav¬ 
enly dispositions, may be in us and abound, 
that so we may not be idle or unfruitful in the 
knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus 
Christ. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Prepare us, O God, for the various changes 
of this mortal life. In every visitation, may 
we see thy over-ruling hand ; that we may 
humble ourselves in adversity, and receive thy 
bounties with devout and thankful hearts. Re¬ 
gard with compassion all sorts and conditions 
of men. Preserve the rich from temptation ; 
and teach them to trust not in uncertain riches, 
but in thee the living God. And to the poor, 
give contentment and submission ; that they 
may be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom 
which thou hast promised to them that love 
thee. Save and defend all the faithful in 
Christ Jesus. Holy Father, keep through 






96 


LENT. 


thine own name those whom thou hast given 
him ; that they all may be one, as thou, Fath¬ 
er, art in him, and he in thee ; that they also 
may be one, even as ye are one. 

Comfort the afflicted ; succor the tempted ; 
strengthen the weak ; instruct the ignorant; 
and reclaim the wandering : And grant unto 
all men, that godliness which is profitable unto 
all things; having the promise of the life 
that now is, and of that which is to come. 

We ask for all, in the name and for the 
sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with 
thee, O Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all 
honor and glory, world without end. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Friday Evening. 

O Father of mercies, and God of all com¬ 
fort, who art our constant protector, and the 
giver of every blessing which we enjoy; we 
humbly and heartily thank thee for thy mer¬ 
cies during the past day ; and we pray thee to 
preserve us through the night, and to cause thy 
peace at this time to rest upon us. We ask 
the forgiveness of all our sins. Remember not 
against us the transgressions of this day, or of 







LENT. 


97 


our past lives : But grant unto us true repent¬ 
ance, and a saving faith in our Lord Jesus 
Christ. Give us a due sense of our great un¬ 
worthiness, and of the manifold transgressions 
which we daily commit against thee. Help 
us to exercise that godly sorrow which work- 
eth repentance unto salvation. And when we 
appear before thee, weary and heavy-laden 
with the burden of our sins, we beseech thee 
to show unto us the light of thy reconciled 
countenance, and grant us the comforts of thy 
Holy Spirit; that we may go to our rest in 
peace, and in the hope of pardon of all our 
sins, through the all-prevailing merits of our 
dear Redeemer. 

Teach us, O Lord, so to number our days, 
that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 
Let us remember, that we are daily and hourly 
drawing nearer to the grave: And may we 
learn, by every instance of mortality, that our 
hold on life is feeble and uncertain, and we 
know not how soon it may please thee to 
bring it to an end. O blessed Lord, by whose 
mercy we have been spared another day, give 
us grace to redeem the time that yet remains, 
and to use all diligence to fill up the measure 
of our duties, and to finish the work which 
thou hast given us to do, before we be called 
hence, to give up our account to thee. 







98 


LENT. 


Let us beware, that we stifle not the voice 
of an awakened conscience, nor neglect or 
delay to execute any good resolutions which, 
by thy grace, we have formed. Above all, 
may no one put off the work of repentance, 
or refuse to hear the warnings of the gospel. 
Dispose us, at the close of every day, to try 
and examine our lives by the standard of thy 
holy word ; that we may turn from every evil 
way, and live henceforth as becomes the crea¬ 
tures of thy bounty, and the partakers of thy 
grace. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Bless, we pray thee, all our relatives, friends', 
and brethren. Make them thy children by 
adoption and grace, and extend to them all 
the benefits of thy gospel. Have mercy on 
our native land; and continue to us, if it 
please thee, the blessings which we have so 
long and so unthankfully enjoyed. Save us 
from national judgments ; and punish us not 
according to our deserts. But spare us, good 
Lord; spare us, for the sake of thy dear Son. 
Give wisdom and integrity, we beseech thee, 
to our civil rulers and magistrates. May they 
rule in thy fear, and seek thy glory. Endue 
them, and the people under them, with that 
righteousness which exalteth a nation; and 
save them from those sins which are a re- 
proach to any people* 







LENT. 


99 


These and all other things needful for our 
bodies and our souls, for our temporal and eter¬ 
nal interests, we humbly ask, in the name of 
our only mediator and intercessor, Jesus Christ. 
Amen. 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. • 


Saturday Morning . 


O most gracious and merciful God, we be¬ 
seech thee to pour down thy blessing on us, thy 
servants, who are now assembled in thy pres¬ 
ence, to confess our sins, to praise thy name, 
and to implore the continuance of thy mercies 
through another day. We are weak and help¬ 
less, sinful and corrupt, and exposed to danger 
on every side. We stand in continual need 
of thy assistance; and without thee we can 
do nothing. But how shall we come into thy 
presence, before whom the angels veil their 
faces, and in whose sight the heavens are not 
clean ! Blessed be thy holy name that a door 
of access has been opened to thy throne, 
through the atoning sacrifice of thy beloved 
Son. Blessed be thy holy name, for the gra¬ 
cious assurance, that whosoever shall seek thy 







100 


LENT. 


face through the all-prevailing efficacy of his 
intercession, shall in no wise be cast out. We 
come to thee, pleading this thy assurance ; and 
we beseech thee, of thine infinite goodness, 
to continue to us this day, thy wonted care 
and protection; and enable us to discharge, 
with fidelity ^id diligence, all the duties of 
our several callings. 

Enable us to pass this day, under an abiding 
sense of thy continual presence, wheresoever 
we are. Let us remember, that thou search- 
est out all our ways; and that there is not a 
word in our tongue, or a thought or intent of 
our heart, that is not known to thee our God. 
We pray thee therefore to bring all our most 
secret thoughts into subjection to the gospel; 
and enable us so to live, that we may have the 
testimony of our consciences, that in simplici¬ 
ty and godly sincerity, we have our conversa¬ 
tion in the world. 

Give us grace to overcome our sinful appe¬ 
tites and passions; to mortify our pride ; and 
to bring every member of our bodies, and 
every faculty of our souls, into captivity to the 
law of Christ. May we put away all hatred 
and variance, all anger and strife, all malice 
and evil-speaking; and learn to forgive one 
another, even as we hope to be forgiven. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 






LENT. 


101 


Prepare us, O God, for all the events of this 
day. Sanctify to us our prosperity and our 
adversity, our health and our sickness, our 
daily comforts and enjoyments, as well as our 
anxieties and disappointments. Purify our 
hearts more and more, by the various dispen¬ 
sations of thy providence ; and fit us, by the 
several vicissitudes of this mortal life, for that 
great and final change which we must soon 
experience. 

We earnestly commend to thy fatherly care, 
all those whom it is our duty to remember in 
our prayers. Be merciful to all men; and 
especially to the poor, the sick, the needy, and 
the afflicted. Make all their troubles and trials 
to work together for their present and eternal 
good, through Jesus Christ our Lord, to 
whom, with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, 
be all honor and glory, world without end. 
Amen . 

Our Father, <fcc. 

The grace, &c. 


Saturday Evening. 

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we 
come before thee, humbled under a sense of 
our sins and infirmities, beseeching thee to 
look down upon us in thy wonted pity and 







102 


LENT. 


compassion, pardoning our iniquities, and ac¬ 
cepting our supplications, for Jesus Christ’s 
sake. 

In the midst of thy manifold and great mer¬ 
cies, we lament the coldness of our hearts, 
and the imperfection of our best services. 
We have left undone those things which we 
ought to have done; and we have done those 
things which we ought not to have done ; and 
we feel and acknowledge that, in our best estate, 
we are unprofitable servants. But, O God, 
we draw near to thee, in penitence and con¬ 
trition, asking forgiveness for all our misdoings, 
and especially for the transgressions of the past 
day. Who can tell how often he offendeth ! 
O cleanse us, we beseech thee, from our secret 
faults; and purify our hearts, and sanctify our 
affections, that we may henceforth serve thee 
in holiness and righteousness all the days of 
our life. 

We ask nothing for our own merits: But 
we plead the name of Jesus Christ thy Son, 
in whom thou hast taught us to place our 
whole confidence and hope. O Father Al¬ 
mighty, pardon us for his sake. May his 
meritorious sacrifice atone for our offences: 
May his precious blood cleanse our hearts from 
every stain of guilt: May his intercession 
prevail with thee in our behalf: May we be¬ 
lieve unfeignedly in his name: May we bring 






LENT 


103 


forth fruits of obedience worthy of this faith: 
May we be justified freely by his grace : And 
may we go to rest this night, in peace with 
thee, and in perfect charity with all mankind. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Prepare our minds, O God, for the solemn 
duties of the ensuing day. Give us grace to 
examine our hearts and lives, by the standard 
of thy pure and holy law. Let us earnestly 
inquire, whether we have truly renounced the 
devil and all his works, the vain pomp and 
glory of the world, and the sinful desires of the 
flesh. Let us search out all deceitful evasions, 
and flattering disguises, and endeavor to know 
ourselves, even as we are known of thee. Let 
us look back on our past transgressions, with 
shame and contrition, and with sincere purpose 
and desire to live hereafter to thy glory. And 
being thus prepared, O God, may the coming 
sabbath be a day of rest and peace to our 
souls. May we go with the multitude, to thy 
house of prayer. There may we offer thee a 
holy worship. May we grow in grace, and 
learn more and more how to walk so as to 
please thee; and -thus be prepared for that 
better sabbath, that eternal rest, which remains 
for the people of God. 

Grant us these our humble petitions, for the 
sake of Jesus Christ our Lord and Saviour. 
Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 






104 


LENT. 


Unto God’s gracious care and protection we 
now commit ourselves, and all our relatives, 
friends, and brethren, for this night. The 
Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make 
his face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto 
us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon 
us, and give us peace, both now and evermore. 
Amen . 








PASSION WEEK. 


Sunday Morning . 

Oar Father, &c. 

O Lord, the great and dreadful God, keep¬ 
ing thy covenant and mercy to them that love 
thee and obey thy commandments; we have 
sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have 
done wickedly, even by departing from thy 
precepts, and from thy judgments ; neither 
have we hearkened unto thy holy word. O 
Lord, righteousness belongeth unto thee, but 
unto us confusion of face, because we have 
sinned against thee. To thee, our God, be¬ 
long mercies and .forgivenesses, though we 
have rebelled against thee; neither have we 
obeyed thy voice, to walk in thy laws, which 
thou hast set before us. O Lord, according 
to all thy righteousness, we beseech thee, let 
thine anger and thy fury be turned away from 


106 


PASSION WEEK. 


us. Hear our prayers and our supplications, 
which we make before thee this day ; and 
cause thy face to shine upon us in thy sanctu¬ 
ary : For we do not present our supplications 
before thee for our righteousness, but for thy 
great mercies in Christ Jesus. 

We adore thee, heavenly Father, for thy 
tender love towards mankind, in sending thy 
only Son our Saviour Jesus Christ into the 
world, to take upon him our flesh, and suffer 
death upon the cross for our redemption. 
Grant us grace to meditate, with deep humil¬ 
ity and contrition, on this great mystery of 
godliness. Grant that the lessons of thy holy 
word, which are brought before us this day, 
may prove profitable to us, for doctrine, for 
reproof, for correction, for instruction in right¬ 
eousness, that we may be perfected in holiness, 
and thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 

When we behold our blessed Saviour, 
betrayed and given up into the hands of wick¬ 
ed men, to be crucified, may we learn to 
guard against those wicked and deceitful lusts 
which war against the soul. When we wit¬ 
ness the weakness and frailty of the early 
disciples of our suffering Lord, may we the 
more earnestly seek for that grace, which alone 
can strengthen our faith, and help us in time 
of need. When we call to our remembrance 
the Saviour’s agony and bloody sweat, and 






PASSION WEEK. 


107 


behold him exceeding sorrowful, even unto 
death, may our hearts bleed with penitence 
and contrition ; and may we abhor and re¬ 
nounce those sins and iniquities for which he 
was stricken, and wounded, and put to grief. 
When we see him despised and rejected, and 
hear the cry of Crucify him ! Crucify him! 
may we strive to subdue those unholy passions, 
by which we crucify our Lord afresh, and put 
his cause to open shame. When we see the 
meek and lowly Redeemer, led as a lamb to 
the slaughter, neither opening his mouth, nor 
resisting the violence of his oppressors, may 
we learn to imitate the example of his great 
humility, and patiently follow him whitherso¬ 
ever his voice shall call us. When we see 
the atoning blood, flowing down from the 
cross, may we, by a true and living faith, so 
apply it to our hearts, that our guilt may be 
washed away, and we may appear before thee, 
clothed in the spotless robe of the righteous¬ 
ness of Christ, 

And may we from henceforth, O God, 
faithfully follow that Blessed and Holy One, 
whom thou hast highly exalted, and to whom 
thou hast given a name that is above every 
name; that at the name of Jesus every knee 
may bow, of things in heaven, and things in 
earth, and things under the earth; and that 
every tongue may confess that Jesus Christ is 
Lord, to the glory of God the Father. 






108 


PASSION WEEK. 


[Occasional Prayers, &e.] 

And may the grace of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, and the love of God, and the fellow¬ 
ship of the Holy Ghost, be with us all ever¬ 
more. Amen . 


Sunday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty and everlasting God, we adore thee 
for thy tender compassion and loving kindness 
to us, and to the whole family of mankind. 
We bless thee for the gift of thy dear Son, 
through whose atoning sacrifice we are 
brought near to thee, and by whose meritorious 
death and passion we are redeemed from 
death, and from the guilt and burden of our 
sins. We do not presume to come before thee, 
O merciful Lord, trusting in our own right¬ 
eousness, but in thy manifold and great 
mercies. We acknowledge and bewail our 
many and sore offences, for which our Lord 
Jesus Christ humbled himself, and became obe¬ 
dient unto death, even the painful death of the 
cross; and for which thou wast pleased to 
bruise him, and put him to grief. May we 
keep in lively remembrance the agonies which 














PASSION WEEK. 


109 


he endured for our sake. May we remember, 
that he hath borne our griefs, and carried our 
sorrows; that he was wounded for our trans¬ 
gressions, and bruised for our iniquities; that 
the chastisement of our peace was upon him; 
that by his stripes we are healed ; and that 
upon him was laid the iniquity of us all. May 
we remember the exceeding great love of our 
blessed Saviour Jesus Christ, in dying for our 
sins, and the innumerable benefits, which by 
his precious blood-shedding he hath obtained 
for us. And may we offer and present unto 
thee, ourselves, our souls, and bodies, to be a 
reasonable, holy, and living sacrifice ; humbly 
beseeching thee, at all times, to accept our 
bounden duty and service, not weighing our 
merits, but pardoning our offences, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Grant, heavenly Father, that the instructive 
lessons which we have heard this day with our 
outward ears, may, through thy grace, be so 
grafted inwardly in our hearts, that they may 
bring forth in us the fruits of good living; and 
that in all our walk and conversation, we may 
henceforth glory in nothing else but the cross of 
our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Prepare our hearts, O God, for the solemn 
duties of the present week. Direct our med¬ 
itations, and give us grace to enter into thy 
10 * 









110 


PASSION WEEK. 


presence, by the blood of Jesus, by that new 
and living way which he hath consecrated for 
us ; and having him for our Great High Priest, 
may we draw near with a true heart, in full 
assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled 
from an evil conscience, and our bodies 
washed with pure water. May we hold fast 
the profession of our faith without wavering, 
knowing that he is faithful who hath promised 
to him that overcometh, a crown of victory 
and eternal glory. All which we ask through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

Unto God’s gracious care and protection, 
we now commit ourselves, and all our relatives 
and friends, for this night. The Lord bless us 
and keep us. The Lord make his face to 
shine upon us, and be merciful unto us. The 
Lord lift up his countenance upon us and give 
us peace, both now and evermore. Amen , 


Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday , and Thursday Morning. 


Almighty G od, the Father of our Lord Jesus 
Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven 
and earth is named, we bow our knees before 
thee, beseeching thee to look down upon us 
from the habitation of thy glory, and merci- 










PASSION WEEK. 


Ill 


fully hear and accept the supplications with 
which we begin this day. Grant us, according 
to the riches of thy grace, to be strength¬ 
ened with might by thy Spirit in the inner 
man ; that Christ may dwell in our hearts by 
faith ; that, being rooted and grounded in love, 
we may be able to comprehend what is the 
breadth, and length, and depth, and height; 
and to know the love of Christ, which passeth 
knowledge, that we may be filled with all the 
fulness of thee, our God. 

With the returning light of another day, 
grant us grace to meditate on the wonders of 
redeeming grace. Give us a grateful sense of 
thy unspeakable love, in sending thy blessed 
Son Jesus Christ into the world to die for us, 
wdiile we were yet sinners, that he might re¬ 
concile us unto thee. May we behold in his 
meritorious death, that one oblation of himself, 
once offered, by which he hath perfected for¬ 
ever them that are sanctified, by finishing 
transgression, making an end of sin, making 
reconciliation for iniquity, and bringing in 
everlasting righteousness. 

Help us to draw near to the cross of Jesus, 
that our eyes and our hearts may be turned 
away from the pomps and vanities of the 
world : And when we behold the Lord of 
glory bearing our sins in his own body on the 
tree, may the world be crucified unto us, and 






112 


PASSION WEEK. 


we unto the world. When we behold the 
suffering Redeemer, tasting death for our sins, 
teach us to bear afflictions and trials with pa¬ 
tience and resignation. In all our afflictions, 
may we turn to the example of him, who was 
oppressed and afflicted, yet opened not his 
mouth ; who, when he was reviled, reviled not 
again ; when he suffered, threatened not; but 
committed himself unto him who judgeth 
righteously. In all our troubles and adversi¬ 
ties, enable us, in the true spirit of our suffer¬ 
ing Lord, to say, not our will, O Father, but 
thine be done. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose 
Spirit the whole body of the Church is gov¬ 
erned and sanctified, receive our supplications 
and prayers for all our friends, relatives, and 
brethren, and for all conditions of men in thy 
holy Church : And grant that every member 
of the same, in his vocation and ministry, may 
truly and godly serve thee, through our Lord 
and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 







PASSION WEEK. 


113 


Monday , Tuesday, Wednesday , and Thursday Evening. 

Oar Father, &,c. 

All glory be to thee, Almighty God, our 
heavenly Father, for that thou, of thy tender 
mercy, didst give thine only Son Jesus Christ 
to suffer death upon the cross for our redemp¬ 
tion ; who made there, by his one oblation of 
himself once offered, a full, perfect, and suffi¬ 
cient sacrifice, oblation, and satisfaction for 
the sins of the whole world. Grant, heavenly 
Father, that by his merits and death, and 
through faith in his blood, we and all the mem¬ 
bers of thy Church, may obtain remission of 
our sins, and all other benefits of his passion. 
Grant that all the children of men may be 
brought near to thee, through the blood of the 
cross. As Christ hath died for all, grant unto 
all the abundance of thy grace, that they which 
live, may not henceforth live unto themselves, 
but unto him who died for them, and rose 
again, and ever liveth to make intercession for 
them before thy throne. 

Look with pity., O God, upon those who 
are bowed down under a sense of their sins, 
and are weary and heavy-laden with the bur¬ 
den of their guilt. May they turn unto Jesus, 
who appeared on earth meek and lowly in 
heart, and learn of him. May they take upon 






114 


PASSION WEEK. 


them his yoke, which is easy, and his burden, 
which is light, and thus find rest to their souls. 

Extend thy compassion, heavenly Father, 
to us, and to all who call upon thee in the 
name of thy beloved Son. May we never be 
ashamed of Christ and his gospel, nor swerve 
from thy testimonies, through the manifold 
temptations by which we are surrounded. 
Thou knowest, Lord, the secrets of our hearts. 
Shut not thy merciful ears to our prayers ; 
but spare us, Lord most holy, O God most 
mighty, O holy and merciful Saviour, thou 
most worthy Judge eternal, and suffer us 
not, in the midst of our earthly trials, to fall 
from thee. In all our sufferings and afflictions, 
enable us to possess our souls in patience. 
When thy hand lieth heavy upon us, in judg¬ 
ment, or in chastisement, give us grace to look 
up to heaven, and by faith behold the glory 
that shall be revealed, and submit ourselves to 
thy righteous dealing. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Accept our prayers and supplications, O 
God, as well for others as for ourselves. Teach 
us to love one another, as Christ hath loved 
us ; to bear each others’ burden ; and so to 
fulfil the law of Christ, who came not to be 
ministered unto, but to minister, and to give 
his life a ransom for many. Give us grace also 
to love our enemies, and from our heart to for- 








PASSION WEEK. 


115 


give every one his trespasses against us, that 
we may hope to be forgiven of our heavenly 
Father, for Jesus Christ’s sake. Amen . 

The grace, &c. 


Good Friday Morning. 


O Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. 
O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of 
the world, grant us thy peace. O Lamb of 
God, who takest away the sins of the world, 
have mercy upon us. O Christ, hear us. 
Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ, have mer¬ 
cy upon us. 

Our Father, &c. 

O Lord, deal not with us according to our 
sins ; neither reward us according to our ini¬ 
quities. But look graciously upon us, and 
behold with pity the sorrows of our hearts. 
Favorably with mercy hear our prayers, and 
forgive the sins of thy people. Spare us, good 
Lord ; spare thy people, for whom thy pre¬ 
cious blood was poured out upon the cross. 
By the mystery of thy holy incarnation ; by 
thy holy nativity and circumcision ; by thy 
baptism, fasting, and temptation ; by thine 
agony and bloody sweat; by thy cross and 








PASSION WEEK. 


116 

passion; and by thy precious death and bu¬ 
rial ; good Lord deliver us. 

We sinners do beseech thee to hear us, at 
all times, and especially on this memorable 
day : And, O blessed Lord, when we see thee, 
betrayed and given up into the hands of wick¬ 
ed men, to suffer death upon the cross, for our 
redemption : When we see thee, mocked, and 
scourged, and spit upon, and crowned with 
thorns, and dragged away to crucifixion : 
When we behold thee, thus bearing our sins in 
thine own body on the tree : May we feel and 
realize the exceeding sinfulness of sin ; and 
shun and abhor all those evil appetites and pas¬ 
sions, which crucify thee afresh, and put thee 
and thy cause to open shame. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O merciful God, who hast made all men, 
and hatest nothing that thou hast made, nor 
desirest the death of a sinner, but rather that 
he should be converted and live, have mercy 
upon a world lying in darkness and the shadow 
of death. May the fountain which, as on this 
day, was opened for sin and for uncleanness, 
send forth its healing streams into all lands. 
Look with pity, O God, upon the descendants 
of thine ancient people, Israel, whose fore¬ 
fathers shed the innocent blood of thy dear 
Son. Let it no longer rest upon them and 
upon their children; but take from them all 






PASSION WEEK. 


117 


hardness of heart and unbelief. Give them 
eyes to see, and ears to hear, and hearts to 
understand. Pour down upon them the spirit 
of grace and supplication, that they may look 
upon him whom they have pierced, and weep 
for themselves and for their children, and be 
saved at last among the remnant of the true 
Israelites. Be merciful also to those who are 
living in unbelief, and denying the Lord that 
bought them; and to all those who, through 
ignorance or superstition, are bowing down to 
idols, or worshiping an unknown God. Take 
from them, O Lord, all ignorance, hardness of 
heart, and contempt of thy word ; and at last 
bring them home to thy flock, that they may 
be gathered into one fold, under one Shepherd, 
Jesus Christ our Lord, w ho liveth and reigneth 
with the Father, and the Holy Spirit, one God, 
world without end. Amen . 


Good Friday Evening . 


O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the 
Father, that takest away the sins of the world, 
have mercy upon us. Thou that takest away 
the sins of the world, receive our prayers. 
Thou that sittest at the right hand of God the 
11 







118 


PASSION WEEK. 


Father, have mercy upon us. Though thou 
art the King of Glory, O Christ; though thou 
art the everlasting Son of the Father; yet, for 
our deliverance from the bondage of sin and 
death, thou didst humble thyself to come into 
the world as the lowly seed of a woman, and 
to offer thy body as a sacrifice on the cross; 
and when thou hadst overcome the sharpness 
of death, thou didst open the kingdom of 
heaven to all believers. O Lord, let thy mercy 
be upon us; and let those that trust in thee 
never be confounded. 

We praise thee, O God, we bless thee, we 
worship thee, we glorify thee, we give thanks 
to thee for thy great goodness, as manifested 
unto us in the work of redemption. We 
bless thee for thy great mercy in again permit¬ 
ting us to commemorate the dying love of our 
Saviour, in the solemn offices of thy sanctuary. 
We bless thee for that ministry of reconcilia¬ 
tion, by which repentance and remission of 
sins are proclaimed to lost and helpless sin 
ners. We rejoice that we are encouraged, 
through the preaching of thy blessed gospel, to 
confess our sins, to renew T our repentance, and 
to call upon thee, the Lord our God, for pardon 
and forgiveness. Grant us, with all thy other 
mercies, the constant aids of thy holy Spirit; 
and so apply the lessons which we have heard 
this day, to our hearts, that every hurtful pas- 









PASSION WEEK. 


119 


sion may be subdued, and every sinful practice 
renounced ; and that we may, ever hereafter, 
obey thy godly motions in righteousness and 
true holiness. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O God, we now commit ourselves to thy 
gracious care and protection for this night. 
Defend us, and all who are near and dear to us 
in the various relations of life, from every 
danger and mischief, and from all fear and 
anxiety. Grant us such rest and refreshment 
as may fit us for the several duties which thou 
mayest require of us. And keep us mindful, 
heavenly Father, as we pass on from day to 
day, that the time is short, and that we must 
soon follow our blessed Saviour through the 
grave and gate of death ; that our frail bodies 
must soon be laid down in the dust, and that 
our immortal spirits must return to God who 
gave them. And grant us grace always to 
live in such a state of preparation that we 
may never be afraid to die. May our flesh 
rest in hope : so that at last, through the cross 
and passion of thy dear Son, we may be 
brought unto the glory of his resurrection, and 
to the joys of thy heavenly kingdom. 

We ask for all, in the name and through the 
merits of the same, Jesus Christ our Lord, in 
whose all-prevailing words we sum up these 
our petitions :— 

Our Father, &c. 










120 


PASSION WEEK. 


Saturday Morning. 


O Lord God, heavenly Father, early in the 
morning do we flee unto thee. Our souls do 
wait for thee. In thy word is our trust. Lord, 
what is man, that thou so regardest him ? As 
high as the heaven is, in comparison of the 
earth, so great is thy mercy towards them that 
fear thee: As far also as the east is from the 
west, so far hast thou removed our sins from 
us. But, O God, we confess our unworthi¬ 
ness and acknowledge our frailty. We are 
but dust. Thou hast made our days as it 
were a span long, and our age is even as noth¬ 
ing in respect of thee ; and verily every man 
living is altogether vanity. At thy word all 
our days are gone: They come to an end, as 
it were a tale that is told. The grave must 
receive us : We must lie down in a place of 
darkness. But, O God, according to thy 
promise, thou wilt show wonders among the 
dead ; and they shall rise up again and praise 
thee. Thy loving-kindness shall be shown in 
the grave; and thy faithfulness in destruction. 
Thy marvelous works shall be known in the 
dark ; and thy righteousness in the land where 
all things are forgotten. Thou hast redeemed 
us; and thou canst restore us. Thou shall 







PASSION WEEK. 


121 

show us the path of life : In thy presence is 
the fulness of joy, and at thy right hand there 
is pleasure forevermore. 

Grant, O Lord, that as we are baptized into 
the death of thy beloved Son Jesus Christ, and 
as he was raised from the dead, even so we 
also may be raised from the death of sin, and 
walk in newness of life. Being planted to¬ 
gether in the likeness of his death, may we 
also be made in the likeness of his resurrection. 
May our old man be crucified with him, that 
the body of sin may be destroyed, and that 
henceforth we may not serve sin. If we be 
dead with Christ, give us faith to believe that 
we shall also live with him ; knowing that 
Christ, being raised from the dead, dieth no 
more ; that death hath no more dominion over 
him. For in that he died, he died unto sin 
once; but in that he liveth, he livetli unto God. 
May we also ourselves be dead unto sin, but 
alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
May sin have no more dominion over us: But 
being made free from sin and become servants 
to God, may we have our fruit unto holiness, 
and the end everlasting life. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Grant us grace, heavenly Father, to live this 
day to thy glory. In willing obedience to thy 
commandments ; in patient and humble resig¬ 
nation to thy will; in unreserved confidence in 
IP 








122 


PASSION WEEK. 


thy justice, goodness, and wisdom ; and under 
a grateful sense of all thy mercies; enable us 
to serve thee faithfully all the days of our life. 
We pray for our friends, relatives, and bene¬ 
factors ; and for all whom we are bound to 
remember in our prayers. May we all be 
found at last among the happy number whose 
names are written in the book of everlasting 
remembrance, and who shall be thine in that 
day when thou makest up thy jewels, and 
when thou wilt spare them, as a man spareth 
his own son that serveth him. May we so 
follow the example of our crucified and risen 
Saviour, as to be made partakers of his blessed 
resurrection, through the same Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen. 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Saturday Evening before Easter. 

Our Father, &c. 

O Lord Jesus Christ, who hast once suf¬ 
fered for our sins, the just for the unjust, to 
bring us unto God, being put to death in the 
flesh, but quickened by the Spirit; and who 
hast passed into the heavens, and now sittest 






PASSION WEEK. 


123 


at the right hand of the Father ; we look up 
to thee as our Great High Priest, to intercede 
for us; that our prayers may ascend as an 
acceptable incense ; that we may, in humble 
trust and confidence, approach the throne of 
thy glory ; that we may obtain mercy, and find 
grace to help in time of need. 

And we beseech thee, O heavenly Father, 
for thy dear Son’s sake, to hear us ; and grant 
that we may henceforth walk in newness of 
life, that we may always bear about in our 
bodies the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life 
also of Jesus may be made manifest in our mortal 
flesh. May we crucify the old man, and ut¬ 
terly abolish the whole body of sin. May we 
find all our corrupt affections, all our carnal 
lusts, all our unholy and inordinate desires, 
mortified, and destroyed, and buried in the 
grave of Jesus. Grant that we may be fitted 
and prepared, through the sanctifying influ¬ 
ences of thy good Spirit, to welcome the dawn 
of the holy day when our blessed Saviour 
burst the bonds of the grave and triumphed over 
death. Grant that we may be ready, with all 
the faculties of our bodies and our souls, to 
unite with thy holy catholic Church through¬ 
out the world, in commemorating the glorious 
resurrection of our ascended Lord. 

O, blessed and Eternal Spirit, by whom the 
whole body of the Church is governed and 







124 


PASSION WEEK. 


sanctified, enter into the hearts of all who pro¬ 
fess and call themselves Christians. Endue 
the stewards of the mysteries of ihy gospel 
with grace, so to preach the word, and so to 
minister in holy things, that every soul may 
become a temple of the Holy Ghost, and be 
made a vessel unto honor, sanctified, and meet 
for the master’s use, and prepared unto every 
good work. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

And finally, O God, when our probation 
shall be brought to a close, and when we shall 
be called to pass through the grave and gate of 
death, may we depart in peace, and in a com¬ 
fortable hope of a joyful resurrection, through 
his merits, who died, and was buried, and 
rose again for us, Jesus Christ our Lord. 
Amen . 

To thy mercy and protection, we now com¬ 
mit ourselves, with all our friends, relatives, 
and brethren. Bless us, and keep us, and be 
gracious unto us, this night and evermore. 
Amen . 







EASTER TO TRINITY. 


Easter Sunday — Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty God and heavenly Father, we 
bless thee for thy great goodness in permitting 
us again to behold the return of this sacred 
day. We praise thee for the glorious resur¬ 
rection of thy blessed Son, our Saviour Jesus 
Christ, whom we acknowledge as the very 
Paschal Lamb foreshadowed in the scriptures, 
and offered on the cross, as a propitiation for 
the sins of the world ; who, by the shedding of 
his own precious blood, hast overcome death, 
and by rising from the grave, is made the 
first fruits of them that sleep, and hast opened 
unto us the gate of everlasting life. 

We confess that we are by nature dead in 
trespasses and sins, and can not, by our own 


126 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


power, raise ourselves to newness of life : 
But, blessed be thy name, that thou hast, of 
thy abundant mercy, begotten us again to a 
lively hope, through the resurrection of Jesus 
Christ, to an inheritance incorruptible, unde¬ 
filed, and that fadeth not away, reserved in 
heaven for all those who are kept by thy pow¬ 
er through faith unto salvation. 

Give us grace, heavenly Father, so to be¬ 
wail our sinfulness, and so to meditate on thy 
wondrous love, that we may find our hearts 
dead indeed unto sin, and alive unto thee, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

We beseech thee, gracious God, to grant us 
thy special blessing this day. May the Spirit 
of him that raised up Jesus from the dead, 
dwell in us, and direct us in all our duties. 
Raise our thoughts from the things of this 
world, and fix them upon those things which 
are above, where Christ sitteth at thy right 
hand. 

Since Christ our Passover has been sacri¬ 
ficed for us, therefore let us keep the feast: 
not with the old leaven, neither with the leav¬ 
en of malice and wickedness ; but with the 
unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. May 
we fervently join in the prayers and praises of 
thy people in the courts of thy sanctuary. 
And give us grace so to eat the flesh of thy 






EASTER TO TRINITY. 


127 

sinful bodies may be made clean by his body, 
and our souls washed through his most pre¬ 
cious blood, and that we may evermore dwell 
in him, and he in us. 

Grant also to all those who shall assemble 
with us in thy house of prayer, that they may 
be plenteously endued with thy heavenly grace, 
and be prepared, with meek heart, and due 
reverence, to hear and receive thy holy word, 
and to be meet partakers of thy holy mysteries. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Pour down thy Spirit from on high on the 
ministers of thy blessed gospel: And, while 
they preach Jesus and the resurrection, let thy 
word, in their mouth, be as life from the dead ; 
that so they, who are sleeping in their sins, 
may awake, and arise from the dead, that 
Christ may give them light. 

And now, may the God of peace, who 
brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus 
Christ, the great Shepherd of the sheep, 
through the blood of the everlasting covenant, 
make us perfect in every good work to do his 
will, working in us that which is well pleas¬ 
ing in his sight, through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
to whom be glory forever and ever. Avien . 







128 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


Easter Sunday — Evening. 

Our Father, &,c. 

Most merciful God and Father, receive, we 
beseech thee, our hearty thanks for thy great 
goodness ; and especially for the blessings and 
mercies bestowed upon us this day. We bless 
thee for the preaching of thy word, and for the 
administration of thy holy sacraments. We 
bless thee for thy gracious condescension, in 
having thy habitation among the sons of men, 
and in dwelling in the midst of the assemblies 
of thy people. Let thy blessing rest, we be¬ 
seech thee, upon those whom thou hast called 
to minister in holy things. Let thy priests be 
clothed with righteousness; and let thy peo¬ 
ple rejoice in thy salvation. Grant that the 
words spoken in thy name, may not be spoken 
in vain. Grant us grace, so to hear and re¬ 
ceive the godly counsel and instruction of those 
who are set over us in the Lord, that in all 
our words and deeds we may seek thy glory, 
and the increase of thy kingdom. 

We bless thee, heavenly Father, for the 
revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, as the 
resurrection and the life; and for the gracious 
declaration, that whosoever liveth and believ- 
eth in him, shall never die. Grant us grace 
to humble ourselves before thee, knowing that 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


129 


thou art able to exalt us in due time. May we 
follow the example of thy dearly beloved Son, 
in patience, meekness, and humility. And as 
he died and rose again for us, so may we, 
who are baptized into his death, die from sin, 
and rise again unto righteousness, continually 
mortifying all our evil and corrupt affections, 
and daily proceeding in all virtue and godli¬ 
ness of living. 

We commend to thy rich mercies in Christ 
Jesus, all the nations that are sitting in dark¬ 
ness and in the shadow of death. May the 
Sun of Righteousness rise upon them, and the 
light of the everlasting gospel shine into their 
hearts, to give them the knowledge of the glo¬ 
ry of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

Have mercy on the house of Israel, and 
teach them by thy Spirit to know, that thou 
hast made that same Jesus, whom their fore¬ 
fathers crucified, both Lord and Christ. 

Awaken the impenitent to a sense of their 
danger, by putting them in remembrance, 
that thou hast appointed a day in which thou 
wilt judge the world in righteousness, by him 
whom thou hast ordained, whereof thou hast 
given assurance unto all men, in that thou hast 
raised him from the dead. 

Comfort those who are in affliction for the 
loss of friends, departed this life in thy faith 
and fear. Teach them to sorrow not for those 
12 






130 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


who sleep in thee, even as others who have 
no hope ; believing, that if Jesus died and 
rose again, even so them also which sleep in 
Jesus, will God bring with him. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

And now, O God, we commit ourselves, 
and all who are near and dear to us, to thy 
holy care and keeping. Let us go to our rest 
in humble trust and confidence in thy unfail¬ 
ing mercy. And let us remember, as we close 
our eyes in sleep, that the hour is coming in 
the which all that are in the graves shall hear 
the voice of the Son of man, and shall come 
forth, they that have done good, to the resur¬ 
rection of life, and they that have done evil, 
to the resurrection of condemnation. And 
may we be so prepared by thy grace, for this 
event, that when our mortal bodies shall be 
committed to the ground, they may rest in 
sure and certain hope of a joyful resurrection 
to eternal life ; through Jesus Christ our Lord, 
to whom, with thee, O Father, and the Holy 
Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without 
end. Amen. 


Sunday Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

O Eternal God, thou art mighty in power, 
and incomprehensible in majesty : The heav- 







EASTER TO TRINITY. 


131 


en of heavens can not contain thee ; much 
less the walls of temples made with hands: 
And yet thou hast been graciously pleased to 
promise thy special presence in every place 
where two or three of thy faithful servants 
shall assemble together in thy name, to offer 
up their praises and supplications unto thee. 
Vouchsafe, O Lord, according to this prom¬ 
ise, to be present with us, and with all others, 
who may meet this day, to worship and glorify 
thee in thy holy sanctuary. Regard, we be¬ 
seech thee, the services of thy servants ; and 
grant thy renewing grace to all those who may 
draw near to thee, to give thanks for the ben¬ 
efits which they have received at thy hands, 
to set forth thy most worthy praise, to hear 
thy most holy word, to confess their sins, and 
to ask such things as are requisite and neces¬ 
sary, as well for the body as the soul. Endue 
them with such steadiness of faith, and with 
such holy affections, that their devotions may 
ascend up as acceptable incense to thy throne. 
And be pleased, O gracious God, to grant 
unto them whatsoever, in thine infinite wis¬ 
dom, thou shalt deem most expedient for them. 

Almighty God, who, by thy Holy Spirit, 
hast appointed divers ministers in thy Church, 
mercifully behold thy servants, who are called 
to the several ranks of this holy office ; and so 
replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, 





132 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


and adorn them with innocency of life, that 
both by word and deed, they may faithfully 
serve thee, to the glory of thy name, and the 
edification of thy people. We beseech thee 
especially, to send down thy blessing upon 
those who shall stand up this day in thy courts 
to serve thee ; and so endue them with thy 
Holy Spirit, that they may faithfully preach 
thy word, earnestly reproving, beseeching, and 
rebuking, with all patience and perseverance ; 
and may also, by their life and conversation, 
be a wholesome example to thy flock, in all 
Christian virtue, and finally fulfil their course 
with joy, and at the latter day receive a 
crown of righteousness. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Give us true repentance, and pardon all our 
past sins, negligences and infirmities. Make 
this a day of grace and consolation to our 
souls. Guide and direct our private medita¬ 
tions. Give us grace to examine our hearts ; 
to consider our ways ; to search thy holy 
word ; to reflect on the wonders of thy love; 
and above all, to seek thy face in secret, and 
to prepare ourselves for thy kingdom. We 
ask for all in the name and for the sake of 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 

The grace, &c. 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


133 


Sunday Evening. 

O Lord our God, we are not worthy to pre¬ 
sent ourselves before thee. We are compass¬ 
ed with infirmity, and laden with iniquity. 
Give us grace, we beseech thee, to humble 
ourselves ; to pray and seek thy face ; and to 
turn from our wicked ways; that thou mayest, 
according to thy gracious promise, bow down 
thine ear and hear our supplications, and for¬ 
give us all our sins. Prepare our hearts espe¬ 
cially for this our evening sacrifice of prayer 
and thanksgiving ; and mercifully grant our 
petitions, not for our own deservings, hut for 
the worthiness of thy blessed Son, our Saviour 
Jesus Christ. 

Accept our hearty thanks, O God, for the 
gospel privileges which we have been permit¬ 
ted to enjoy this day ; and for every mercy, 
both temporal and spiritual, which thou hast 
been graciously pleased to bestow upon us. 
Not unto us, but unto thy name, be all the 
blessing and praise. To thee be ascribed all 
the honor and glory of every good and ac¬ 
ceptable word which we have spoken, of eve¬ 
ry righteous deed which we have performed, 
and of every holy thought which we have con¬ 
ceived. 

["Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

12 * 







134 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


We intercede with tliee, heavenly Father, 
for all the children of men. Look with mercy 
npon thy holy Church universal, which thou 
hast purchased to thyself wdtli the precious 
blood of thy dear Son. And to those whom 
thou hast called to minister in any holy office, 
give thy grace and heavenly benediction ; that 
both by their life and doctrine, they may set 
forth thy glory, and promote the salvation of 
their fellow-men. 

Have pity upon those who have disregarded 
or profaned this sacred day, by absenting them¬ 
selves from thy house of prayer, or by closing 
their ears, or hardening their hearts, against 
the teachings of thy holy word. Give them 
repentance and a better mind. May they no 
longer grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by their 
negligence and unbelief. May they seek thee 
while thou mayest be found, and call upon 
thee while thou art near. May the wicked 
forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his 
thoughts, and return unto thee, that thou may¬ 
est have mercy upon him, and abundantly 
pardon him. 

Be thou gracious and merciful, heavenly 
Father, to all those who, through sickness, or 
infirmity, or other providential necessity, have 
been deprived of the comforts of thy public 
worship, and who have communed with thee 
in their chamber and in their closet, and 










EASTER TO TRINITY. 


135 


sought thee in secret. Show them the light of 
thy countenance; and cause them to know 
experimentally, that he who seeth in secret, 
will reward them openly. Grant this, we be¬ 
seech thee, for the sake of Jesus Christ our 
Lord. 

Our Father, &c. 

Unto God’s gracious care and protection, we 
now commit ourselves, and all our relatives, 
friends, and brethren, for this night. The 
Lord bless us and keep us. The Lord make 
his face to shine upon us, and be merciful unto 
us. The Lord lift up his countenance upon 
us, and give us peace, both now and evermore. 
Amen . 


Monday Morning. 

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who 
hast given thine only Son Jesus Christ to die 
for our sins, and to rise again for our justifica¬ 
tion ; fill our hearts, we beseech thee, with 
gratitude and love, and our lips with praises. 
Let us magnify thy name for all thy goodness, 
and remember the wonders that thou hast done 
to the children of men. Let us offer unto 
thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and speak 
of all thy works with gladness. 






136 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


Cleanse our hearts, O God, from all evil 
and wickedness, that we may offer unto 
thee a pure and acceptable service. Give us 
that peace which thy blessed Son came into 
the world to proclaim. Pour into our hearts 
that spirit of adoption, which may bear witness 
with our spirit, that we are children of God, 
and joint heirs with Christ, in the glories of his 
heavenly kingdom. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Enable us by thy grace to overcome all the 
temptations of the world, to renounce its 
pomps and vanities, to withstand its allure¬ 
ments, and to disregard its frowns. And 
grant that we, being regenerate, and made thy 
children by adoption and grace, may daily be 
renewed by thy Holy Spirit. Grant that the 
instructive lessons of the past day, may not 
pass away in forgetfulness, like the morning 
cloud or the early dew : But revive and 
strengthen our holy thoughts and desires, and 
subdue the passions and propensities of our 
evil hearts. Preserve us from pride and envy ; 
from hatred and malice; from murmurings 
and disputings; from covetousness and dis¬ 
honesty ; from selfishness and idleness ; from 
unchristian tempers and impure desires ; and 
from all hurtful lusts that war against the soul. 
Pardon and correct whatever is sinful in us ; 
strengthen what is weak ; confirm what is 






EASTER TO TRINITY. 


137 


wavering ; supply wliat is wanting ; and make 
us thoroughly furnished unto every good word 
and work. 

But without thee we can do nothing. Be 
with us, therefore, this day, and in all the 
future scenes of life. Assist us, in all our 
doings, with thy most gracious favor, and fur¬ 
ther us with thy continual help ; make us 
steadfast and unmovable, always abounding in 
the work of the Lord, knowing that our labor 
shall not be in vain in the Lord. And when 
the days of our pilgrimage shall come to an 
end, and when our mortal bodies shall put on 
immortality, may we realize the saying that 
is written, Death is swallowed up in victory ! 

And for this, and every other mercy, may 
we ascribe all the glory and honor to God, 
who giveth us the victory, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Monday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Most merciful God and heavenly Father, 
we thank thee for thy protection and preserva- 







138 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


tion through another day, and for the great 
mercies and benefits which thou hast bestowed 
upon us. We acknowledge thy over-ruling 
providence. By thy word were the heavens 
made, and all the host of them by the breath 
of thy mouth. Thou hast also laid the foun¬ 
dations of the earth, and daily providest for 
the wants of all thy creatures. Thou openest 
thy hand, and fillest all things living with 
plenteousness; and thou upholdest the whole 
world, and all that therein is, by thy mighty 
power. Thou coverest the heavens with 
clouds, and preparest rain for the earth. Thou 
makest the grass to grow upon the mountains, 
and givest food to the beasts of the field, and 
the young ravens that cry unto thee. Without 
thee, not even a sparrow falleth on the ground, 
and the very hairs of our head are all num¬ 
bered. 

We confess, merciful God, that we have 
forfeited, by our manifold transgressions, every 
claim to thy fatherly protection in the present 
life; and have rendered ourselves unworthy 
of the blessings of the life to come. But, 
guilty and unworthy as we are, we would still 
look up to thee in the name of that blessed Me¬ 
diator, whom thou hast given to be unto us 
both a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of 
godly life; beseeching thee, through his all- 
prevailing merits, to permit us to come into thy 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


139 


presence, and to ask for everything that is 
necessary, as well for the body as the soul. 

Hearken, O Lord our God, unto our 
prayers. Enter not into judgment with thy 
servants. Have mercy upon us, according to 
thy loving kindness ; according to the multi¬ 
tude of thy tender mercies, blot out our trans¬ 
gressions. Wash us thoroughly from our 
iniquity, and cleanse us from all our sin. 
Pardon our want of love to thee, and our 
many offences against our fellow-men. Pour 
into our hearts that most excellent gift of char¬ 
ity, the very bond of peace, and of all virtues ; 
without which, whosoever liveth is counted 
dead before thee. Endue us with that spirit 
which thinketh no evil, which beareth all 
things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, 
endureth all things. Give us grace to come 
before thee with clean hands and a pure heart, 
that our prayers may ascend to thy throne as 
an acceptable offering, and be received and 
answered, for the sake of thy dear Son, Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

And now, O Lord, before we lie down and 
take our rest, suffer us to commend, not only 
ourselves, but all others, to thy covenanted 
mercies in Christ Jesus. Shed thy blessings 
abundantly upon all our friends and relatives. 
Take us and them under thy fatherly pro- 









140 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


tection; and bless and keep us, this night 
and forevermore, through Jesus Christ, our 
blessed Lord and Saviour, to whom, with thee, 
O Father, and the Holy Ghost, be honor and 
glory, world without end. Amen . 


Tuesday Morning. 

O Almighty God, whose mercies are re¬ 
newed to us day by day, early will we come 
before thee; every morning will we give thanks 
to thee, and acknowledge thy goodness and 
loving kindness. But how shall we approach 
thy mercy- seat; or what shall we render unto 
thee for all the benefits which thou hast done 
unto us l To love and serve thee, with all the 
heart, and soul, and mind, and strength, is our 
reasonable service and bounden duty. But 
our best services, through the weakness of our 
mortal nature, are full of imperfection. When 
we have done all, we are unprofitable servants. 
We look for acceptance, only through the 
merits of that blessed Saviour, in whose all- 
prevailing name alone we are permitted to ap¬ 
proach thee, even with the voice of praise and 
thanksgiving. 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


141 


Let us meditate, with humble gratitude, on 
thy condescension and grace, in regarding our 
unworthy services, and in continuing to us thy 
daily mercies. Teach us to know and feel 
our exceeding sinfulness in thy sight, that we 
may be filled with a due sense of thy forbear¬ 
ance and compassion. We acknowledge that 
we have greatly sinned, and done amiss, and 
dealt wickedly. But, O Lord, we beseech 
thee, absolve us from our offences; that, 
through thy bountiful goodness, we may be 
delivered from the bondage of those sins which, 
by our frailty, we have committed. Grant 
that we may truly repent of them before thee, 
that so iniquity may not be our ruin. 

Our eyes are now directed unto thee, from 
whom cometh all our help. Enable us to en¬ 
ter upon the various duties of this day, in 
humble trust and confidence in thy over-ruling 
protection and thy renewing grace. Deliver 
us from carelessness, negligence, and spiritual 
sloth. Make us active in the discharge of our 
respective duties. Help us to press forward 
in the way of life, and so to run, that we may 
obtain the prize of our high calling. Give us 
grace to abound in those good works, in which 
thou hast commanded us to walk ; and by pa¬ 
tient continuance in well-doing, to seek for glo¬ 
ry, and honor, and immortality ; that so, by thy 
mercy, we may, in the end, obtain eternal life* 







142 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We beseech thee, gracious God, to bless thy 
whole Church, and to order all things for its 
increase and prosperity. Sanctify and cleanse 
it from all impurity and error, that it may be 
holy and without blemish, and become a name 
and praise among all the nations of the earth. 

Pour down thy blessing upon the religious, 
civil, and literary institutions of our country. 
Extend to them thy fostering aid, and make 
them instrumental in promoting thy glory, and 
the good of mankind. And grant that our lot 
may be cast among a people fearing thee,' and 
loving righteousness ; and that all who profess 
thy holy name, may truly and faithfully serve 
thee, in all the various duties and relations of 
life. 

We ask for all, in the name and for the sake 
of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 


Tuesday Evening. 


Almighty and everlasting God, dispose our 
hearts, we beseech thee, to close this day with 
serious reflection and fervent prayer. Receive 
with favor the supplications of thy servants; 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


143 


and look down upon us in thy wonted pity and 
compassion ; not in thine anger, lest thou bring 
us to nothing. 

We thank thee for the daily bounties and 
blessings which thou givest us to enjoy. En¬ 
able us to see thy hand, and to acknowledge 
thy providence, in all our concerns ; and, with 
true devotion of heart, to trace up every stream 
of earthly comfort to the fountain of eternal 
love. 

We bless thee especially, heavenly Father, 
for the word of revelation ; for the light of the 
everlasting gospel, and for the redemption of 
the world by the death and passion of our 
Saviour Christ, both God and man; who did 
humble himself, even to the death of the cross, 
for us miserable sinners ; w 7 ho lay in darkness 
and the shadow of death, that he might make 
us the children of God, and exalt us unto 
everlasting life. May we always remember 
the exceeding great love of our Master and 
only Saviour, Jesus Christ, thus dying for us, 
and the innumerable benefits which, by his 
precious blood-shedding, he hath obtained for 
us. And may we give unto thee, as we are 
most bounden, continual thanks; submitting 
ourselves wholly to thy holy will and pleasure, 
and studying to serve thee, in true holiness and 
righteousness, all the days of our life. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 








144 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


To the care and protection of thy good 
providence, we commend ourselves, and all 
who are near and dear to us, this night. Be 
thou our refuge, and fortress, and house of de¬ 
fence, in whom we may trust. May we abide 
safely under thy almighty shadow. May thy 
truth and faithfulness be our shield and buck¬ 
ler. May no evil befall us, nor any plague 
come nigh our dwelling. Be thou our contin¬ 
ual ruler and guide: and teach us so to pass 
through things temporal, that we finally lose 
not the things eternal. 

We humbly beseech thee, O God, for all 
sorts and conditions of men ; that thou would- 
est be pleased to make thy ways known unto 
them, thy saving health unto all nations. We 
pray especially for thy holy Church universal; 
that it may be so guided and governed by thy 
good Spirit, that all who profess and call them¬ 
selves Christians, may be led into the way of 
truth, and hold the faith in unity of spirit, in 
the bond of peace, and in righteousness of life. 
Finally, we commend to thy fatherly goodness 
all those who are any ways afflicted, or 
distressed, in mind, body, or estate ; that it 
may please thee to comfort and relieve them, 
according to their several necessities ; giving 
them patience under their sufferings, and a 
happy issue out of all their afflictions. All 










EASTER TO TRINITY. 


145 


which we ask for Jesus Christ’s sake; in 
whose all-prevailing words we sum up these 
our petitions:— 

Our Father, &c. 


Wednesday Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty God, who hast given unto us the 
light of thy blessed gospel to guide us, and the 
influences of thy holy Spirit to quicken us, 
that we may turn from the error of our ways, 
and walk in the paths of truth and righteous¬ 
ness ; we beseech thee to grant, that we, and 
all others who are admitted into the fellowship 
of Christ’s religion, may avoid those things 
that are contrary to our profession, and follow 
all such things as are agreeable to the same, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

And grant, O merciful Father, for his sake, 
that we may hereafter live a godly, righteous, 
and sober life. Bless us in all our ways, and 
whatever we do, may we do it heartily as unto 
thee, with a single eye to thy glory, and in 
humble dependence on thy fatherly protection. 
Enlighten our understandings, control our 
wills, and sanctify our affections. May neither 
13 * 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


146 

the pleasures, nor the cares, nor the honors of 
this life, turn away our thoughts from the life 
which is to come. Enable us faithfully to 
discharge our several duties to thee, and to our 
fellow-men ; that we maybe useful in our gen¬ 
eration among men, and steadfast in our 
covenant with thee. Having had much for¬ 
given of thee, may we love thee much, and 
strive to please thee in all our ways. And 
grant that nothing may ever separate between 
us and thee, or cause us to grow weary of thy 
service. But may we keep thy covenant for¬ 
ever, and daily think upon thy commandments 
to do them, finding thy yoke easy, and thy 
burden light ; yea, accounting thy service 
perfect freedom, and the very joy of our heart. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Accept our thanksgivings, heavenly Father, 
for every mercy which thou hast vouchsafed to 
our bodies and our souls. Day by day we 
give thanks unto thee, and praise thy name. 
And we beseech thee to embrace, not only 
ourselves, but all others in the arms of thy 
mercy. Pity and convert the wicked. May 
they no longer make a mock at sin ; but learn 
to tremble at that wrath which thou hast re¬ 
vealed against all ungodliness and unrighteous¬ 
ness. Give them grace to stand in awe of 
thy judgments, and to sin no more. Bless thy 
faithful people with knowledge and good un- 







EASTER TO TRINITY. 


147 


derstanding, in the ways of truth and virtue. 
And since many are the afflictions of the right¬ 
eous, Lord, remember them in all their troubles. 
Grant that every affliction, though not for the 
present joyous, but grievous, may yield the 
peaceable fruits of righteousness to such as are 
exercised thereby. 

Assist us mercifully, O Lord, in these our 
supplications and prayers ; and dispose the 
way of thy servants towards the attainment of 
everlasting salvation ; that, among all the 
changes and trials of this mortal life, we may 
ever be defended by thy most gracious and 
ready help ; through Jesus Christ our Lord; 
to whom, with thee, O Father, and the Holy 
Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without 
end. Amen . 


Wednesday Evening . 

Almighty God, the Father of our Lord Je¬ 
sus Christ, who desirest not the death of a 
sinner, but rather that he may turn from his 
wickedness and live ; we beseech thee to 
grant us true repentance, and thy Holy Spirit, 
that those things may please thee which we do 
at this present, and that the rest of our life 








] 48 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


hereafter may be pure and holy ; so that at 
the last we may come to thy eternal joy. For 
all that is past, we ask thy pardon and for¬ 
giveness. We are unable, of ourselves, to 
make satisfaction for the least of our trans¬ 
gressions. But we flee unto thy cross, O 
Lamb of God, who hast made there, by the 
one oblation of thyself, once offered, a full, 
perfect, and sufficient sacrifice, oblation, and 
satisfaction, for the sins of the whole world. 
And we beseech thee, by thine agony and 
bloody sweat; by thy cross and passion ; by 
thy precious death and burial; by thy glo¬ 
rious resurrection and ascension ; and by the 
coming of the Holy Ghost; to deliver us from 
all our sins, and have mercy upon us. 

Accept our thanks, heavenly Father, for the 
various and great blessings which we have 
already received at thy hands. We praise 
thee for the comforts and protection of the 
past day. We bless thee for providing for us 
a place of rest by night. Confiding in thy 
care, we commit ourselves to thy holy keep¬ 
ing. And we beseech thee, most mighty God, 
who art the protector of all that trust in thee, 
without whom nothing is strong, nothing is 
holy, to watch over us, and preserve us through 
the hours of darkness, and, if it please thee, to 
bring us in safety to the beginning of another 
day. 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


149 


[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Extend to our fellow-creatures, O God, the 
mercies which we have implored for ourselves. 
Let repentance and remission of sins be 
preached to all nations ; and grant that all the 
kingdoms of the earth may become the king¬ 
doms of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. 

Bless the nation in which we live. Endue 
our civil rulers with the graces of thy Holy 
Spirit; enrich them with thy heavenly gifts ; 
enable them to rule in thy fear ; guide them in 
their counsels ; and bring them at last to thy 
everlasting kingdom. Be gracious unto thy 
Church ; and grant to her Bishops and other 
clergy, and to all the people committed to 
their charge, the healthful spirit of thy grace ; 
and, that they may truly please thee, pour 
upon them the continual dew of thy blessing. 

We commend to thy special care and guid¬ 
ance, all parents and heads of families. Give 
them grace to walk in thy ways ; to set a 
bright example of Christian fidelity before their 
households; and to bring up their children in 
the nurture and admonition of the Lord. 

We pray for our dear friends and relatives. 
Let thy fatherly hand be ever over them ; let 
thy Holy Spirit be ever with them; and so 
lead them in the knowledge and obedience of 
thy word, that, in the end, they may obtain 
everlasting salvation, through Jesus Christ our 









150 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


Lord, in whose perfect form of words we con¬ 
clude our petitions:— 

Our Father, &c. 


Thursday Morning. 

O Almighty God, who alone canst order 
the unruly wills and affections of sin r ul men, 
grant us grace to come before thee at this time, 
under a deep sense of our unworthiness, and 
in humble reliance on thy goodness and com¬ 
passion. Grant that our hearts may be drawn 
to thy testimonies ; that we may love the thing 
which thou commandest, and follow all thy 
precepts with a willing and obedient mind. 
Let us set our affections on things above, and 
not on things on the earth. May we always 
desire that which thou dost promise ; that so, 
our thoughts may be turned away from the 
vain and unstable enjoyments of this world ; 
and that, amid all the changes and trials of 
life, our hearts may be fixed, where true joys 
alone can be found, where Christ sitteth on 
the right hand of God. 

Enable us, O God, from day to day, to call 
to remembrance the solemn vows and prom¬ 
ises of our baptism. May we look upon the 








EASTER TO TRINITY. 


151 

pomps and vanities of the world, as hurtful 
and dangerous snares to our feet. May we 
subdue and mortify all those sinful desires and 
passions which war against the soul. May 
we remain steadfast in the faith which we have 
professed before thee ; and may we obediently 
keep thy holy will and commandments, and 
walk in the same all the days of our life. And 
we humbly beseech thee to grant, that we, be¬ 
ing dead unto sin, and living unto righteous¬ 
ness, and being buried with Christ in his death, 
may crucify the old man, and utterly abolish 
the whole body of sin ; and as we are made 
partakers of the death of thy Son, we may also 
be partakers of his resurrection ; so that final¬ 
ly, with the residue of thy holy Church, we 
may be inheritors of thine everlasting king¬ 
dom, through Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We bless thee, heavenly Father, for thy 
goodness and mercy, in preserving us through 
the perils and dangers of another night. As 
thou hast kept us from the pestilence that 
walketh in darkness, so may it please thee to 
save us from the arrow that flieth by day, and 
from the destruction that wasteth at noon. 
Continue to us, we beseech thee, all our pub¬ 
lic and private blessings ; and especially the 
means of grace, and the hope of glory set be¬ 
fore us in thy gospel. 






152 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


Make us humble and grateful in the days of 
our prosperity, and patient and submissive in 
the time of adversity. In whatsoever state 
thou shalt see fit to place us, give us grace 
therewith to be content. Bestow upon us 
such things as thou knowest to be most need¬ 
ful and profitable for us. Give us grace to 
seek first thy kingdom and righteousness, and 
to trust to thy unfailing promise, that all other 
things shall be added unto us. And above all, 
feed us with the bread of life, which cometh 
down from heaven, and which thou givest for 
the life of the world. Lord, evermore give us 
this bread, and nourish us up with it, even unto 
life eternal. 

We ask these blessings, not for ourselves 
only, but for all others who are near and dear 
to us, for the sake, and through the merits of 
Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose all-prevailing 
words we sum up these our petitions :— 

Our Father, &c. 


Thursday Evening. 

! Our Father, &c. 

Almighty and eternal God, thou hast com¬ 
manded us to worship thee, the Lord our God, 
and thee only to serve; and we acknowledge 








EASTER TO TRINITY. 


153 


that this is our reasonable service and our 
bouriden duty. But we confess, with shame 
and sorrow, that we have not glorified thee as 
we ought, nor rendered unto thee the honor 
due unto thy name : And we humble ourselves 
before thee this night, beseeching thee to look 
down upon us in compassion, and to answer 
us, not according to our deservings, but ac¬ 
cording to thy great mercies in Christ Jesus. 

Give us grace to believe in thee, to fear thee, 
to love thee, with all our heart, and mind, and 
soul, and strength ; to w orship thee, to give 
thanks to thee, to put our whole trust in thee, 
to call upon thee, to honor thy holy name and 
w r ord, and to serve thee truly all the days of 
our life. 

And while we approach thee with the voice 
of prayer and supplication, accept, we beseech 
thee, our hearty thanks for all thy goodness 
towards us. We acknowledge the numberless 
mercies bestowed upon us from day to day; 
and we pray thee to add to all thy other bles¬ 
sings, such a grateful sense of thy merciful 
kindness, as shall lead us to love thee more, 
and to serve thee better. Teach us to live in 
humble dependence on thy promises, in cheer¬ 
ful obedience to thy laws, and in a comfortable 
hope of a blessed immortality. Grant that, 
being received for thine own children by 
adoption, and being incorporated into thy holy 






154 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


Church, we may receive the fulness of thy 
grace, and ever remain in the number of thy 
faithful children ; and finally, with the residue 
of thy people, may be made partakers of thy 
heavenly kingdom. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We implore thy mercy and grace, heavenly 
Father, in behalf of all classes and descriptions 
of men. Look with pity on the nations still 
lying in darkness and the shadow of death, 
who are bowing down to idols of wood or 
stone, which their own hands have made. 
Turn them from the error of their ways, and 
enlighten their minds with the beams of the 
everlasting gospel. Give to thy blessed Son, 
the heathen for his inheritance, and the utmost 
bounds of the creation for his possession. 

To those who dwell in Christian lands, and 
yet deny the Lord that bought them ; to those 
who are resting in dangerous heresy or schism, 
or willingly neglecting the great salvation 
wrought out for them through the sacrifice of 
the cross, extend thy forbearance and com¬ 
passion. Quicken them to a sense of their 
danger, and teach them to flee from the wrath 
to come, while yet a day of grace remains, and 
thou waitest to be merciful unto them. 

Have mercy on the afflicted, in mind, body, 
or estate. Go not from them, when trouble is 
at hand and there is none to help them. Be 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


155 


thou their continual refuge, and in the multi¬ 
tude ol the sorrows which they have in their 
hearts, let thy comforts refresh their souls. 

To thy gracious care and protection we 
commend ourselves, and all our friends, rela¬ 
tives, and brethren, this night, beseeching thee 
to keep and preserve us, for Jesus Christ’s sake, 
to whom, with the Father, and the Holy 
Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without 
end. Amen . 


Friday Morning . 

O Lord God, our heavenly Father, from 
whom cometh every good and perfect gift, 
grant unto us, thy unworthy servants, the aid 
and guidance of thy Holy Spirit, that we may 
come and bow down before thee this morning, 
with humble reverence and godly fear; praising 
thee for all thy goodness, and imploring thee 
still to spare us, and be merciful unto us. 

We bless thee for preserving us through the 
various and changing scenes of our past life ; 
for permitting us again to behold the light of 
day, and for bringing us together in peace and 
safety, the living monuments of thy pardoning 
mercy and providential care. But, above all, 











156 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


we bless thee for thy still more marvelous love, 
in sending thy only Son into the world, to re¬ 
deem us from sin and everlasting death. With 
thine own arm thou hast wrought out salvation 
for us, O God, our Redeemer. Our souls bless 
thee, and all that is within us doth bless thy 
holy name. Thy praise shall be ever in our 
mouths. We will magnify thee with the voice 
of thanksgiving, and exalt thy name together. 

But thou requirest us to glorify thee, not 
only with our lips, but in the obedience of a 
holy life. Give us grace thus to render unto 
thee the homage which is most justly due. 
Preserve us from unchristian tempers and pur¬ 
suits, and restrain every unholy desire and ap¬ 
petite, that we may go forth this day to the 
discharge of our several duties, with thy love 
shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost. 
May we walk in thy fear. May we honor 
thee, by uprightness and fidelity in all our 
ways, and evermore serve thee in pureness of 
living and truth, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We intercede with thee, heavenly Father, 
in behalf of those for whom it is our desire 
and our duty to pray. Look with pity and 
compassion upon a world lying in wickedness, 
and especially upon this nation. Give to our 
civil rulers a due sense of their responsibility 




EASTER TO TRINITY. 


157 


to thee. Make them faithful to the trust com¬ 
mitted to them by thy providence, and enable 
them so to live, that, finally, they may attain 
everlasting joy and felicity. And to all thy 
people give thy heavenly grace ; that they may 
forsake their sins, and subdue their passions, 
and restrain the violence of party strife % and 
animosity; and so dwell together in this life, 
that in the world to come they may have life 
everlasting. 

Keep thy household, the Church, in contin¬ 
ual godliness ; that through thy gracious pro¬ 
tection, it may be free from trouble and adver¬ 
sity, and that all its members may be devoutly 
given to serve thee in good works, and to look 
for glory and immortality, through the merits 
and intercession of thy dear Son Jesus Christ. 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Friday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty God, whose ears are ever open to 
the petitions of thy humble servants, and who 
hast graciously promised, that whatsoever we 
ask of thee in prayer, believing, we shall re- 
14 * 





153 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


ceive, mercifully with thy favor look upon us 
at this time, and enable us to draw near to thee 
in humble reverence and godly fear. We 
lament the coldness of our hearts; we confess 
and bewail our daily iniquities. But we be¬ 
seech thee, gracious God, unworthy as we are 
to approach thee, and bowed down as we are 
with infirmity, to accept our imperfect services 
through the intercession of thy dear Son. 
Grant that our supplications and thanksgivings 
may be sprinkled with his most precious blood, 
which cleanseth from all sin ; and so may 
come up as a memorial before thee, acceptable, 
and well pleasing in thy sight. And pour 
down upon us a more abundant measure of 
grace and supplication, that we may hereafter 
approach thee in fervent prayer, and worship 
thee in spirit and in truth. 

Hear our prayers, O God, for those whom 
it is our duty and our desire to remember at 
the throne of grace; and especiallly for all 
estates of men in thy holy Church. Endue 
with a spirit of wisdom and faithfulness, those 
who are appointed to watch over the fold of 
Christ. Let none of them be as hirelings who 
care not for the sheep. But raise up pastors 
according to thy heart, who shall seek that 
which is lost, and bring again that which is 
driven away, and bind up that which is broken, 
and strengthen that which is weak. May 










EASTER TO TRINITY. 


159 


they take heed to themselves, and to all the 
flock of which the Holy Ghost hath made 
them overseers, to feed thy Church, which thy 
blessed Son hast purchased with his blood ; 
that when he, the Chief Shepherd, shall ap¬ 
pear, they may receive, at his hands, a crown 
of glory that fadeth not away. 

And O, thou blessed Jesus, who didst come 
to seek and to save that which was lost, look 
with an eye of pity upon those who are still 
as sheep going astray, and especially on the 
lost sheep of the house of Israel. Bring them 
home, merciful Lord, to thy flock, that they 
may be saved with the remnant of the true 
Israelites : And grant that they and we, as one 
fold, under one Shepherd, may learn of thee, 
who art meek and lowly in heart, and thus 
And rest to our souls. Feed us in green pas¬ 
tures ; and lead us forth beside the waters of 
comfort. Conduct us to the end of our life, 
in the paths of righteousness. And when we 
pass through the valley of the shadow of death, 
be thou with us, that thy rod and staff may 
sustain and support us, and bring us at last to 
thy heavenly fold. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Grant these and all our petitions, through 
the merits of Jesus Christ our Saviour, who 
liveth and reigneth with thee, O Father, in the 
unity of the Holy Ghost, one God, world 
without end. Amen . 





160 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


Saturday Morning . 


Almighty God, our heavenly Father, by 
whose providence the darkness of night is 
turned to the light of day, look dovvij upon us, 
thy humble servants, who are assembled to¬ 
gether to praise thee for thy goodness, and to 
implore the continuance of thy fatherly protec¬ 
tion. Thy daily mercies are daily calls to 
gratitude and obedience. But we acknow¬ 
ledge, gracious God, our unworthiness of thy 
favors, and the coldness of our hearts in the 
midst of thy blessings. Accept our hearty 
thanks for thy patience and forbearance, in 
bringing us, notwithstanding our sins and in¬ 
gratitude, to the beginning of another day. 

We come before thee in the name of Jesus, 
the friend of sinners, and our advocate with 
thee. For his sake, hear and answer all our 
petitions. For his sake, bestow upon us, not 
only the bounties of thy providence, but the 
richer blessings of thy grace. Preserve our 
frail bodies from day to day; and, above all, 
have compassion on our guilty souls. Grant 
unto us pardon and peace, that we may be 
cleansed from all our sins, and ever hereafter 
serve thee, in meekness of spirit, and quietness 
of mind. Keep us especially this day by thy 





EASTER TO TRINITY. 


161 


mighty power : And grant that our love to thee 
may abound more and more, that we may ap¬ 
prove and obey thy holy precepts, that we may 
be sincere and without offence, till the day of 
Christ; being filled with the fruits of right¬ 
eousness, which are by him, to the praise of 
thee our God. 

Hear our intercessions, most gracious Fath¬ 
er, for the whole race of man. Overrule all 
the changes in empires and kingdoms to the 
advancement of true religion, and for the pro¬ 
motion of thy glory. Extend the kingdom of 
thy dear Son, to the utmost bounds of the 
earth. Inspire thy Church with zeal and con¬ 
stancy, and endue thy ministers with wisdom 
and strength, for the propagation of thy holy 
word, that the tidings of salvation may be 
proclaimed among the heathen, and that the 
whole world may be turned unto thee, and all 
kindreds and people may worship before thee. 
Renew thy everlasting covenant with thy an¬ 
cient people Israel, that they may come to 
the knowledge of the truth, and bow the knee 
to him whom their fathers crucified. 

Look with an eye of pity upon this nation. 
We are a sinful people, laden with iniquity ; 
and deserve nothing at thy hands but chastise¬ 
ments and judgments. But, deal not with 11s, 
O God, according to our wickedness. With¬ 
hold thy hand, and spare us, for thy dear Son’s 





162 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


sake. Send forth throughout our land, a spirit 
of repentance, that we may turn from our evil 
ways, and amend our doings. Increase among 
us that righteousness which exalteth a nation, 
and save us from those sins which are a re¬ 
proach to any people. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We pray for all thy faithful servants, and 
especially for those among our relatives and 
friends. May their names be written in the 
book of life, and found therein in the last day. 
Hear us, O God, for Jesus Christ’s sake, in 
whose form of words we sum up these our pe¬ 
titions :— 

Our Father, &c. 


Saturday Evening. 


Almighty God, the Father of mercies, and 
the giver and preserver of all good things, we 
humbly beseech thee, of thy great mercy, to re¬ 
ceive and accept our thank-offerings. Grant 
that from the abundance of grateful hearts, we 
may speak thy praise ; and that, at the close 
of every week, we may he found growing in 
all the graces and fruits of the Spirit. 

O thou who hast given thy Son to die for 
our sins, and to rise again for our justification, 









EASTER TO TRINITY. 


163 

grant us grace so to put away the leaven of 
malice and wickedness, that we may always 
serve thee in pureness of living and truth ; that 
at his second coming to judge the world in 
righteousness, we may be found an acceptable 
people in thy sight. 

Grant unto us forgiveness of all that is past, 
through him who, by thy grace, tasted death 
for every man. For his sake, cleanse us from 
all our defilements, and pardon our manifold 
sins and transgressions ; that, being justified by 
his blood, we may be saved from condemna¬ 
tion, through his all-prevailing intercession. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

To thy tender mercies in Christ Jesus we 
now commit all the members of our household, 
with our dear friends and relatives, whether 
present or absent. Keep and defend us through 
the darkness of the night; and bring us in 
health and peace to the light of another day 
of rest. And, O God, prepare our hearts by 
thy good Spirit, for the joys and comforts of 
thy holy worship, for the profitable use of thy 
written word, and for the due improvement of 
all the means of grace, which thou, in thy mer¬ 
cy, hast afforded us. 

We ask thy blessing on all the ministers of 
thy word and ordinances. Prepare them for 
the solemn services of thy sanctuary, and for 
all the duties of their high calling; that they 








EASTER TO TRINITY. 


164 

may preach thy truth in love, and minister in 
holy things, with all faithfulness and diligence. 

And to every member of thy holy universal 
Church, extend thy blessing; and grant that 
all who profess and call themselves Christians, 
may be led into the way of truth, and hold the 
faith in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, 
and in righteousness of life. 

Bless the means which are employed for the 
extension of thy kingdom throughout the 
world. And let the time draw near, when the 
whole earth shall be filled with thy glory, and 
when every thing that hath breath shall praise 
the Lord. 

VVe ask for all in the name of Jesus Christ 
our Lord, in whose form of words we con¬ 
clude our petitions :— 

Our Father, &c. 


Ascension Day — Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

O God, the King of glory, who hast exalted 
thine only Son, Jesus Christ, with great tri¬ 
umph unto thy kingdom in heaven, permit 
us, w T e beseech thee, to draw near to thee in 
his all prevailing name, knowing that he ever 
liveth to make intercession for us miserable 









EASTER TO TRINITY. 


165 


sinners. May this great High Priest, who 
has passed into the heavens, ever be our advo¬ 
cate with thee. Accept, we implore thee, his 
mediation in our behalf; and when thou hear- 
est, have mercy upon us. May our sins, 
though many, be forgiven us, through the rich¬ 
es of thy grace. Excite in us that godly sor¬ 
row for sin, which worketh repentance unto 
salvation, not to be repented of. Give us that 
living faith which worketh by love, purifying 
the heart, overcoming the world, and bringing 
forth the abundant fruits of righteousness. 

And, O thou, wdto hast ascended up on 
high, and hast led captivity captive, and hast 
received gifts for men, and hast given us apos¬ 
tles, and prophets, and evangelists, and pas¬ 
tors, and teachers, for the perfecting of thy 
saints, and for the edification of thy Church ; 
grant, we beseech thee, to all the ministers and 
stewards of thy word, the abundance of thy 
grace, that they may evermore be ready to 
spread abroad thy gospel, and to preach the 
glad-tidings of salvation ; until all men shall 
come, in the unity of the faith, and of the 
knowledge of the Son of God, unto the per¬ 
fect stature of the fulness of Christ. 

We bless thee, heavenly Father, for all thy 
various and great mercies; for the wonderful 
work of redemption ; and for the hope set be¬ 
fore us in the gospel. We bless thee for the 
15 






166 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


privilege of meeting together for prayer and 
praise, on this memorable morning. Give us 
grace to celebrate, with grateful hearts, the 
exaltation of thy blessed Son to his eternal 
throne. May our thoughts also thither as¬ 
cend, drawing up our affections and desires to 
heavenly things, and fitting and preparing us 
for the final enjoyment of thy presence in the 
mansions of glory. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We intercede with thee, gracious God, for 
all who are near and dear to us. Look with 
pity upon those who have hitherto placed their 
hopes and affections on the objects of this 
world, and have neglected the things which 
belong to their eternal peace. Quicken them 
from the death of sin, unto a new and holy 
life. Make them wise unto salvation ; and 
enable them hereafter to seek those things 
which are above, where Christ sitteth at the 
right hand of God. And to those who have 
known the power of thy word, and have turn¬ 
ed their hearts from serving the vain idols of 
this world, to serve thee, the living God, give 
the abundance of thy grace. Keep them 
through thine own name from the evils and 
temptations of this present life Sanctify 
them through thy truth : And grant that, with 
them and all others who shall believe in thy 
Son Jesus Christ, we may have our perfect 









EASTER TO TRINITY. 


167 


consummation and bliss in thy eternal and 
everlasting glory, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord, to whom, with thee, O Father, and the 
Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world 
without end. Amen. 


Ascension Day — Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty, overliving God, whose most dear¬ 
ly beloved Son Jesus Christ, before his ascen¬ 
sion into heaven, didst give commandment to 
his disciples, to go into all the world, and 
preach the gospel to every creature, baptizing 
them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, 
and of the Holy Ghost; regard, we beseech 
thee, the supplications with which we close 
the duties of this day ; and grant that all per¬ 
sons who are admitted into thy holy Church 
by baptism, may receive the fulness of thy 
grace, and ever remain in the number of thy 
faithful children. Being received into the con¬ 
gregation of Christ’s flock, and signed with 
the sign of the cross, may they never be asham¬ 
ed to confess the faith of Christ crucified, but 
manfully fight under his banner, against sin, 
the world, and the devil, and continue Christ’s 












163 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


faithful soldiers and servants, unto their life’s 
end. 

Accept our thanks, heavenly Father, for the 
marvelous works which thou hast wrought for 
the sinful children of men. We bless thee 
for sending thine only begotten Son into the 
world, that whosoever believeth in him may 
not perish, but have everlasting life. We 
praise thee for raising him from the grave, and 
setting him at thine own right hand in heav¬ 
enly places, far above all principality, and pow¬ 
er, and might, and dominion, and every name 
that is named, not only in this world, but in 
that which is to come. We rejoice, that thou 
hast put all things under his feet; that thou 
hast given him to be head over all things to the 
Church, which is his body, the fulness of him 
that filleth all in all ; and that thou hast given 
us assurance, that he has ascended to his Fath¬ 
er and our Father, to his God and our God, to 
prepare a place for those that love him. Grant 
that we may all be found at last among this 
happy number. We pray thee, O God, who 
art rich in mercy, to quicken us who are dead 
in trespasses and sins, and raise us up together, 
and make us to sit in heavenly places in Christ 
Jesus. Send down thy Holy Ghost to com¬ 
fort us : And finally, exalt us to the same place 
whither our Saviour has gone before, that we 
may be with him where he is, and may behold 









EASTER TO TRINITY. ] 69 

his glory, which he had with thee before the 
foundation of the world. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Keep us, O God, in continual watchfulness. 
Let us remember, that the end of all things is 
at hand ; that the time draws near, when the 
same Jesus who ascended into heaven, will 
come again in glory, to judge the world in 
righteousness, and to minister equity and jus¬ 
tice to all people. Make us sober, and faith¬ 
ful, and diligent, in all the duties of our Chris¬ 
tian calling. Above all, give us that fervent 
charity, which shall cover the multitude of sins. 
Let us use hospitality one to another without 
grudging. As every man hath received the 
gift, even so let us minister the same one to 
another, as good stewards of the manifold grace 
of God ; that God may in all things be glori¬ 
fied, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . 
The grace, &c. 


Whit-Sunday — Morning. 


Our Father, &c. 

O God, merciful Father, we praise thee, we 
bless thee, we worship thee, we glorify thee, 
we give thanks to thee, for all the bounties of 
15 * 






170 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


thy providence and grace; and especially for 
thy great goodness, in sending down, as at 
this time, the Holy Ghost, the blessed Com¬ 
forter, to abide with thy Church forever, and 
to direct, sanctify, and govern the hearts of thy 
people. 

We wait this morning at thy footstool for 
new supplies of thy grace, to help our infirmi¬ 
ties, to purify our thoughts and to endue us 
with a spirit of prayer and supplication. 
Grant, we beseech thee, that thy Holy Spirit 
may now rest upon us, as a Spirit of wisdom 
and understanding; a Spirit of counsel and 
strength ; a Spirit of knowledge and true god¬ 
liness ; a Spirit of holy fear and reverence ; a 
Spirit of truth, and love, and unity ; a Spirit 
of everlasting consolation: And especially, O 
God, prepare us for the due observance of this 
day. Guide us into all truth. Open our 
hearts to understand and receive thy holy word, 
and enable us to unite, with one heart and one 
voice, in the solemn services of thy temple, 
and to pour out before thee the incense of 
prayer and praise, in the congregation of thy 
people. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O blessed Jesus, who, after thou hadst ascend¬ 
ed up on high, didst shed upon thy holy apos¬ 
tles many excellent gifts, and who hast gra¬ 
ciously promised to be with the ministers of 









EASTER TO TRINITY. 


171 


thy Church to the end of the world ; we 
commend to thy heavenly grace, all those 
whom thou hast appointed and commanded to 
feed thy flock. Be thou ever present with the 
successors of thy first apostles, the bishops of 
thy Church, and all other pastors who may be 
duly called to the work of the gospel ministry. 
Make them diligent in preaching thy word, 
and in dispensing thy holy sacraments; that 
they may teach the truth in love, and adminis¬ 
ter the wholesome discipline of the Church, in 
thy fear, and to thy glory. 

And to all thy people, extend the riches of 
thy grace. Pour out thy Spirit upon all flesh. 
Send out thy light and thy truth to the nations 
who have never heard thy name. Look with 
pity on thy ancient people Israel. Give them 
a new heart, and revive a right spirit within 
them, that they may hereafter confess thy 
name, and keep thy statutes, and follow and 
obey thy ordinances. And shed abroad thy 
spiritual blessings on all the Churches of thy 
saints throughout the world. May they be 
edified by thy truth ; and walking in thy fear, 
and in the comfort of the Holy Ghost, may 
they enjoy on earth, an earnest and foretaste 
of the joys and consolations of thy Church tri¬ 
umphant in heaven. 

In thy all-prevailing name, O blessed Sa¬ 
viour, we offer these our prayers and supplica- 






EASTER TO TRINITY. 


172 

tions; ascribing to thee, with the Father and 
the Holy Ghost, equal adoration and praise, 
now and evermore. Amen . 


Whit-Sunday — Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

O God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, 
through whom we have access by one Spirit 
unto thee, hear, we beseech thee, the voice of 
praise and thanksgiving with which we close 
this day. We bless thee for all the benefits 
bestowed upon us, and especially for the spirit¬ 
ual blessings sealed to us by the coming of the 
Holy Ghost. We bless thee for thy holy 
word, for thy ministry and ordinances, and for 
all the means of grace which we have been 
permitted to enjoy this day. 

[Thanksgiving for Communion-Day.] 

We praise thee, O God, for opening unto us 
a fountain for sin and for uncleanness, and for 
purifying the humble and contrite soul, by the 
washing of regeneration and the renewing of 
the Holy Ghost. Make us all partakers of 
this heavenly gift. Grant that all sinful affec¬ 
tions may die in us, and that all things belong¬ 
ing to the Spirit may live and grow in us. 








EASTER TO TRINITY. 


173 


Give us grace to put off, concerning the 
former conversation, the old man, which is 
corrupt, according to the deceitful lusts; and 
to put on the new man, which, after thy image, 
is created in righteousness and true holiness. 
Cleanse the thoughts of our hearts by thy holy 
inspiration, that we may perfectly love thee, 
and worthily magnify thy holy name. By thy 
special grace preventing us, put into our minds 
good desires, and by thy continual help, ena¬ 
ble us to bring the same to good effect, that 
we, who can not do anything that is good 
without thee, may by thee be enabled to live 
according to thy will. Grant, we beseech thee, 
that as thou didst teach the hearts of thy faith¬ 
ful people, by sending to them the light of thy 
Holy Spirit, so we, by the same Spirit, may 
have a right judgment in all things, and may 
evermore rejoice in his holy comfort. 

O Lord God, inasmuch as the manifestation 
of the Spirit is given to every man to profit 
withal, let none receive his grace in vain. 
Have compassion on those who deny his 
eternal power and godhead, and show unto 
them who are thus in error, the light of thy 
truth, that they may return into the way of 
righteousness. Be merciful unto such as pro¬ 
fess to believe in him, and yet in works deny 
him, and are doing despite unto his grace. 
Let them no longer grieve that Holy Spirit by 







174 


EASTER TO TRINITY. 


which they are sealed unto the day of redemp¬ 
tion, but give them strength ever hereafter to 
obey his godly motions in righteousness and 
true holiness. 

Be gracious unto those whom the Holy 
Ghost hath made overseers to feed the Church, 
and may they be faithful dispensers of thy 
holy word and sacraments, through the grace 
of our dear Redeemer, Jesus Christ. 

O God, Holy Ghost, sanctifier of the faith¬ 
ful, visit us, we pray thee, as a family and 
household, with thy love and favor. Enlight¬ 
en our minds more and more with the light of 
the everlasting gospel; graft in our hearts a 
love of the truth ; increase in us true religion ; 
nourish us with all goodness ; and of thy great 
mercy, keep us steadfast in the faith, O bless¬ 
ed Spirit, whom, with the Father and the Son 
together, we worship and glorify as one God, 
world without end. Amen . 





TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


Trinity Sunday — Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

O God, the Father Almighty, we adore thee 
as the maker of heaven and earth. Thou, 
Lord, in the beginning, hast laid the founda¬ 
tion of the earth, and the heavens are the 
works of thine hands: They shall perish, but 
thou remainest; and they all shall wax old, as 
doth a garment, and as a vesture shalt thou fold 
them up, and they shall be changed : But thou 
art the same, and thy years shall not fail. And, 
O God, as thou didst rest on the seventh day, 
after the heavens and the earth were finished, 
and all the host of them ; and as thou didst 
bless and sanctify the seventh day, that it 
might be kept holy unto thee; grant us grace, 
we beseech thee, to rest this day, and to wor¬ 
ship and serve thee, according to thy com- 


176 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


mandment. While we acknowledge thee as 
our Creator, preserver, and benefactor, let us 
come into thy presence with thanksgiving, 
and into thy courts with praise. May we be 
thankful unto thee, and speak good of thy 
name. 

O God the Son, thou Eternal Word, who 
wast in the beginning with the Father; by 
whom all things were created ; Thou, who 
wast made flesh and dwelt among us, whose 
glory we beheld, the glory as of the only be¬ 
gotten of the Father, full of grace and truth; 
we adore thee, we worship thee, we glorify 
thee. Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive 
glory, and honor, and power; for thou art our 
Almighty Redeemer, deliverer, and ransom. 
May we seek pardon and forgiveness for all 
our sins through thy all-prevailing mediation 
and intercession ; and may we look to thee, 
and thy merits, for help, and hope, and salva¬ 
tion. 

O God the Holy Ghost, thou Eternal Spirit, 
whom with the Father and the Son together, 
we worship and glorify as One God; we 
adore thee as our Comforter, who came down 
from heaven to help our infirmities, and to 
guide us into all truth; as the Spirit of grace 
and supplication, by whom we are taught how 
and for what to pray ; as the Spirit of holi¬ 
ness, and the sanctifier of the faithful; as the 







TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


177 

quickening and regenerating power of God, 
by whom we are renewed in heart and life, 
and prepared for the kingdom of heaven. Visit 
us, we pray thee, with thy love and favor ; en¬ 
lighten our minds more and more with the 
light of the everlasting gospel; graft in our 
hearts the love of the truth ; increase in us 
true religion; nourish us with all goodness ; 
and of thy great mercy keep us in the same 
all the days of our life. 

O holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, have 
mercy upon us, and keep us steadfast in the 
faith once delivered to the saints. Bless and 
defend thy Church ; and preserve it from all 
false doctrine, heresy, and schism ; that it may 
continue to the end of time, the ground and 
pillar of the truth, and evermore be protected 
from all adversity, persecution, and oppression. 
Make us, and all others who profess and call 
themselves Christians, faithful in every duty, 
and diligent in every good work; and enable 
us by holiness and purity of life, to adorn the 
doctrine of God our Saviour in all things. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

And now, to thee, O Father, and to thee, 
O Son, and to thee, O Holy Ghost, the ever 
blessed and glorious Trinity, three persons and 
one God, be rendered and ascribed equal and 
endless praise, now, henceforth, and forever. 
Amen . 


16 








178 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


Trinity Sunday — Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty and everlasting God, we bless thee 
for the manifold and great mercies which thou 
hast bestowed upon us this day. We thank 
thee that thou hast given unto us, thy servants, 
grace, by the confession of a true faith, to ac¬ 
knowledge the glory of the eternal Trinity, 
and in the power of the divine Majesty, to 
worship the Unity. We praise thee, O God ; 
we acknowledge thee to be the Lord. With 
all the earth, we worship thee. With the 
glorious company of the apostles ; with the 
goodly fellowship of the prophets ; with the 
noble army of martyrs, we praise thee. 
With the Holy Church, throughout all the 
world, we acknowledge thee, the Father, of 
an infinite majesty ; thine adorable, true, and 
only Son ; and the Holy Ghost the Comforter. 

May we be of the number of those who, 
through faith, are born of God; and by faith 
may we overcome the world. May we so 
confess the three that bear record in heaven, 
the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost, 
that the three that bear witness in earth, the 
Spirit, the water, and the blood, may bear wit- 





TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


179 


ness with our spirit, that we are the children 
of God. 

Grant, O Lord, that the doctrines and pre¬ 
cepts which we have heard this day, may prove 
profitable to our souls. May we reflect, with 
deep humility and abasement, on the majesty, 
the wisdom, and the justice of thee our God. 
May we seek thy compassion and forgiveness, 
through the all-prevailing intercession of thy 
dear Son. May thy Holy Spirit help our in¬ 
firmities, and purify our hearts, and sanctify 
our affections. So may we become living 
temples of God, that the Spirit of God may 
dwell in us forever. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

And now, O God, let us retire to rest with 
the consoling hope, that we have walked this 
day as the children of light, and that our im¬ 
perfect services have been, in some measure, 
acceptable unto thee. Take us under thy 
care and protection. Keep us through the si¬ 
lent watches of the night. Guard us from every 
danger. Preserve us from all evil. Give us 
quiet and refreshing sleep, and, if it please 
thee, bring us, in health and peace, to the be¬ 
ginning of another day, fitted and prepared for 
all the various duties of life. Grant us grace 
to be faithful to every trust committed to us, 
diligent in our several callings, and submissive 
to all thy righteous dealings. May we do just- 








180 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


1 y, and love mercy, and walk humbly with 
thee our God. 

Have pity, O merciful Father, upon those 
who lie down this night in sorrow, pain, or 
sickness. Be thou present with them in all 
their troubles ; show them the light of thy 
countenance ; sustain them with thy heavenly 
consolations ; and in thine own good time de¬ 
liver them from every danger, and make them 
partakers of all thy mercies in Christ Jesus. 

We commend to thy mercy and grace, all 
our relations and friends. And may the grace 
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of 
God, and the fellowship of the Holy Ghost, 
be with them, and with us all, this night and 
forevermore. Amen . 


Sunday Morning. 

Our Father, &c. 

O Lord, our heavenly Father, Almighty and 
everlasting God, who hast safely brought us to 
the beginning of this day, we bless thee for 
this and every other manifestation of thy good¬ 
ness and loving kindness. Day by day we 
magnify thee, and worship thy holy name. 







TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


181 


Unto thee, O God, all hearts are open. Unto 
thee all desires are known : And from thee no 
secrets are hid. Cleanse the thoughts of our 
hearts, by the inspiration of thy Holy Spirit, 
that we may perfectly love thee, and devoutly 
offer unto tliee our morning sacrifice of praise 
and thanksgiving. 

Vouchsafe, O Lord, to keep us this day 
without sin. Direct, sanctify, and govern, 
both our hearts and bodies, in the ways of 
thy laws, and in the works of thy command¬ 
ments. Give us grace diligently to search the 
scriptures, and make thy word a lamp unto 
our feet, and a light unto our paths. Guide 
us in our private meditations, and give us 
understanding, that we may know thy testimo¬ 
nies, that in all our works, begun, continued, 
and ended in thee, we may glorify thy holy 
name, and finally, by thy mercy, obtain ever¬ 
lasting life. 

O Merciful God, show unto us this day the 
light of thy countenance, in the public services 
of thy sanctuary. Permit us to assemble to¬ 
gether in thy holy temple, to render thanks for 
the great benefits that we have received at thy 
hands ; to set forth thy most worthy praise ; to 
hear thy most holy word ; and to ask those 
things which are requisite and necessary, as 
well for the body as the soul. Grant us grace 
to acknowledge and confess our manifold sins 
16 * 









182 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


and wickedness; that we may not dissemble 
nor cloak them before thy face; but confess 
them, with an humble, lowly, penitent, and 
obedient heart, to the end that we may obtain 
forgiveness of the same, by thine infinite good¬ 
ness and mercy. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Almighty God, from whom cometh every 
good and perfect gift, and who by the Holy 
Spirit, hast appointed divers orders of minis¬ 
ters in thy Church, send down the abundance 
of thy grace upon those who are called to dis¬ 
pense thy word and ordinances; and so 
replenish them with the truth of thy doctrine, 
and adorn them with purity of life, that both 
by word and good example, they may faithfully 
serve thee in their several stations, to the glory 
of thy name, and the edification of thy Church. 
And bestow thy blessing, O God, on all the 
congregations of thy people, that they may be 
so joined together in unity of spirit, and in the 
bond of peace, that they may be an holy tem¬ 
ple, acceptable unto thee. We especially 
commend to thy grace, the congregation with 
whom we may worship this day. Grant that, 
with one heart, they may desire the prosperity 
of thy holy Apostolic Church, and with one 
mouth may profess the faith once delivered to 
the saints. Defend them from the sins of 
heresy and schism ; let not the foot of pride 








TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


183 


come nigh to hurt them, nor the hand of the 
ungodly to cast them down. May the course 
of this world be so peaceably ordered by thy 
governance, that the Church may joyfully 
serve thee in all godly quietness; and may all 
who are called Christians, walk in the ways of 
truth and peace, and at last be numbered with 
thy saints in glory everlasting, through thy 
merits, O blessed Jesus, thou gracious Bishop 
and Shepherd of our souls, who art, with the 
Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world 
without end. Amen . 


Sunday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty God, Father of all mercies, we, 
thine unworthy servants, desire to humble our¬ 
selves before thee. We acknowledge thy 
great goodness. We thank thee for the vari¬ 
ous and multiplied blessings, which thou hast 
bestowed upon us this day. We adore thee 
as our Creator, our preserver, and our bene¬ 
factor. Above all, we bless thee for the gift 
of thy Son Jesus Christ, and the redemption 
of the world, by his meritorious sacrifice and 
atonement. We bless thee for thine inestima- 






184 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


ble love, in opening a way of access to thy 
throne, through his all-prevailing mediation 
and intercession ; for thy instituted means of 
grace; and for the blessed hope of life and 
immortality, brought to light in thy gospel. 
Give us, O God, a deep and affecting sense of 
all thy mercies ; that out of the abundance of 
our hearts, our lips may speak thy praise. 
May we be enabled, through thy grace, to give 
ourselves up to thy service, and walk before 
thee in holiness and righteousness all our days. 

Grant, O Lord, that the words which we 
have read or heard this day, may sink into our 
hearts, purifying our minds, enlightening our 
understanding, and sanctifying our affections. 
May they bring forth in us the fruit of good 
and holy living, and fit and prepare us for the 
enjoyment of thy heavenly kingdom. And, 
as thou hast promised to hear the petitions of 
those who ask in thy Son’s name, we beseech 
thee mercifully to incline thine ears to us, who 
have drawn near to thee in prayer and suppli¬ 
cation ; and grant that those things which 
have been faithfully asked according to thy 
will, may effectually be obtained, to the re¬ 
lief of our necessity, and the setting forth of 
thy glory. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We ask thy blessing, heavenly Father, in 
behalf of those who have this day been de- 







TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


185 


prived, through thy providence, of the privi¬ 
leges of thy public worship, and the ordinances 
of thy Church. O thou, who seest in secret, 
and hast graciously promised openly to reward 
those who pray to thee in secret, grant that 
through the refreshing visitations of thy Spirit, 
every devout soul may be comforted and satis¬ 
fied ; and that in every place, the incense of¬ 
fered to thy name may ascend to thy throne 
as a pure offering, and be always acceptable in 
thy sight. 

We intercede with thee, merciful God, for 
those who have willingly abstained from the 
services of thy house, and neglected the duties 
of this holy day ; and for those who have pro¬ 
faned thy Sabbath, by forbidden indulgencies, 
or vain recreations, or worldly occupations. 
Father, forgive them all that is past; and take 
from them their evil heart of unbelief, lest they 
be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin, and 
forfeit forever the eternal rest that remaineth 
to the people of God. 

And now, O heavenly Father, we commit 
ourselves, and all our relatives, friends, and 
brethren, to thy holy care and keeping, this 
night and forevermore; through Jesus Christ 
our Lord, to whom, with thee, and the Holy 
Ghost, be all honor and glory, world without 
end. Amen . 









186 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


Monday Morning. 


Our Father, &c. 

Almighty and everlasting God, in whom we 
live, and move, and have our being ; we ac¬ 
knowledge our daily dependence upon thee. 
We thank thee for all thy mercies ; and espe¬ 
cially for thy providential care and preserva¬ 
tion, from the beginning of our lives to this 
day. We thank thee for thy goodness, in 
watching over us during the darkness of the 
night; in protecting us from evil ; and in per¬ 
mitting us again to behold the morning light. 
Accept, heavenly Father, this our grateful sac¬ 
rifice of praise and thanksgiving ; and enable 
us to approach thy throne with humble reve¬ 
rence and godly fear ; feeling our necessities ; 
confessing our sins and unworthiness; and 
seeking pardon and forgiveness, through the 
merits of thy beloved Son, Jesus Christ, our 
Lord. 

Give us grace, merciful God, to dedicate 
both our souls and bodies to thee and thy ser¬ 
vice, in a sober, righteous, and godly life ; and 
in pity and compassion to the weakness and 
corruption of our nature, we beseech thee to 
help our infirmities, and strengthen our reso¬ 
lutions. Thou knowest whereof we are made; 




TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


137 

thou rememberest that we are but dust. As a 
father pitieth his own children, even so be 
thou merciful unto us. Grant us the con¬ 
stant assistance of thy Holy Spirit; that we 
may be effectually restrained from sin, and ex¬ 
cited to our duty. Imprint upon our hearts 
such a dread of thy justice, and such a grate¬ 
ful sense of thy goodness, as may make us both 
afraid and ashamed to offend thee. Keep in 
our minds a lively remembrance of that great 
day, in which every thought, and word, and 
deed, will be judged in righteousness; when 
those that sleep in the dust of the earth shall 
awake, some to everlasting life, and some to 
shame and everlasting contempt. Prepare us, 
O God, for this final account. Purify our 
hearts, and direct us in all our ways. As we 
approach nearer and nearer to the eternal 
world, make us more diligent, and watchful, 
and circumspect. Keep us this day from all 
evil; and defend us from danger and adversity. 
Guard us in the hour of temptation, restrain 
our passions, regulate our desires, and preserve 
us especially from the sins which most easily 
beset us. Grant us patience and resignation, 
if thou shalt see fit to visit us with affliction or 
calamity; and in whatsoever state or condi¬ 
tion it may please thee to place us, grant us 
grace therewith to be content. Make us just 
and upright in all our dealings; kind and 






188 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


compassionate to our neighbors; quiet and 
peaceable in all the relations of life; faithful 
to every trust committed to us ; and ready to 
do good to all men, according to our abilities 
and opportunities. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Heavenly Father, receive with favor this our 
morning oblation, and grant our petitions, not 
for our own deservings, but for the sake, and 
through the merits of Jesus Christ thy Son our 
Lord. Amen . 

The grace, &c. 


Monday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty and merciful God, who art of 
purer eyes than to behold iniquity, and in 
whose sight the heavens are not clean, we 
come before thee in an humble sense of our 
unworthiness, beseeching thee to look down 
upon us in thy wonted pity and compassion. 
Thou hast graciously promised forgiveness to 
those who confess and forsake their sins. 
Thou desirest not the death of a sinner, but 
rather that he should turn from his sin, and be 
saved. Make us duly sensible of the great 
evil of our manifold transgressions; that with 






TRINITY TO ADVENT. $89 

true penitence and contrition, we may seek 
pardon and remission at thy hands. 

But, O God, thou seest that we are frail and 
helpless in ourselves, and encompassed by 
trials and temptations. Grant us therefore the 
constant direction and assistance of thy Holy 
Spirit, that no sinful thoughts, or unlawful de¬ 
signs, or inordinate desires may rest within us. 
Cleanse our hearts from envy, hatred and mal¬ 
ice, and every evil passion, that we may 
always go to our rest at peace with thee, and 
in charity and good will towards our fellow- 
men. 

And accept, O Lord, our intercessions for 
all mankind. Extend the light of thy ever¬ 
lasting gospel to the ends of the earth, that all 
men may know thee, from the greatest to the 
least; that from the rising of the sun even to 
the going down of the same, thy name may be 
great among the Gentiles ; and that in every 
place incense may be offered unto thee. Be 
gracious unto thy Church, and grant that 
every member of the same, in his vocation and 
ministry, may serve thee faithfully. Bless our 
civil rulers and magistrates. Give them grace 
to rule in thy fear, that they may honor thee 
by their fidelity, and promote the welfare and 
prosperity of our country. Send down thy 
blessings, temporal and spiritual, upon all our 
relations, friends, and brethren. May those 
17 





TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


190 

who have been merciful to us, receive mercy 
at thy hands. Pardon those who have injured 
us, and give them repentance and $ better 
mind. Have compassion on those who are in 
trouble, need, or affliction; and administer 
consolation to them, according to their several 
necessities. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We thank thee, O God, for all thy past 
mercies; for the daily blessings and bounties 
of thy hand ; for thy watchful providence and 
preservation ; and for every comfort and con¬ 
venience which we have been permitted to 
enjoy. Above all, we adore thee for thy great 
mercy, in sending thy only Son into the world 
to redeem us from sin and eternal death, 
and in giving us the knowledge and sense of 
our duty towards thee. 

And now, heavenly Father, we commit our¬ 
selves to thy gracious protection for this night. 
Defend us from danger and mischief, and from 
fear and anxiety, that we may enjoy refresh¬ 
ing sleep and repose, and be fitted for the du¬ 
ties of another day. Make us ever mindful of 
the time when we must sleep the sleep of death, 
and return to the dust; and grant us grace al¬ 
ways so to live, that when thou shalt call us 
hence, we may die the death of the righteous, 
and our last end be like his. 







TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


191 


We ask for all, in the name and for the 
sake of Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with 
the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all honor 
and glory, world without end. Amen . 


Tuesday Morning . 

Our Father, &c. 

O Lord God, the Protector of all that trust 
in thee, give ear unto our prayers, and consider 
our meditations. Hearken to the voice of our 
calling, for unto thee do we offer up our 
humble petitions. Early in the morning do 
we appear before thee ; even now do we look 
to thee for thy blessing. Without thee, noth¬ 
ing is strong, nothing is holy. Thou art our 
defender and keeper ; we place our trust and 
confidence in thy unfailing goodness. In com¬ 
passion to the weakness of our mortal nature, 
grant us, O God, the help of thy grace; and 
increase and multiply upon us thy mercy ; that 
we may be delivered from the bondage of cor¬ 
ruption, and admitted into the glorious liberty 
of thy children. Be thou our ruler and guide 
in all our ways ; that we may go out and come 
in this day in peace and safety ; and that we 
may so pass through things temporal, that we 
finally lose not the things eternal. 











192 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


O God, enable us to show forth our gratitude 
to thee, by our love to all for whom Christ has 
died. May we be merciful to our fellow-men, 
as we look for mercy at thy hands. Let us 
not judge one another, lest we be judged of 
thee. Let us not condemn, lest we fall under 
thy just condemnation. May we forgive others, 
as we hope to he forgiven of thee. And grant, 
we beseech thee, that the whole course of our 
lives may be so peaceably ordered by thy gov¬ 
ernance, that we may joyfully serve thee in 
all godly quietness ; that so we may delight in 
thy service, and exercise ourselves day and 
night in thy commandments. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O God, the creator and preserver of all 
mankind, we offer up our supplications for the 
whole human race. Be pleased to make thy 
ways known unto them, and cause the bless¬ 
ed light of thy gospel to shine upon all people, 
that all the nations that thou hast made, may 
come and worship before thee, and glorify thy 
name. More especially, O Lord, we beseech 
thee to keep thy Church and household in 
thy true religion, that it may ever be governed 
by tby good Spirit; and that all who profess 
and call themselves Christians, may be kept 
steadfastly in thy truth, and hold the faith 
in unity of spirit, in the bond of peace, and 
in righteousness of life. Finally, O heavenly 








TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


193 


Father, we commend to thy unfailing compas¬ 
sion, all the sons and daughters of affliction : 
Whatsoever be their trouble, be thou merciful 
unto them, and bless them, and show them the 
light of thy countenance. Comfort and re¬ 
lieve them, according to their several neces¬ 
sities, and give them patience under their 
sufferings, and a happy issue out of all their 
afflictions. All which we ask for Jesus Christ’s 
sake, to whom, with thee, O Father, and the 
Holy Ghost, be all honor and glory, world 
without end. Amen . 


Tuesday Evejiing. 

O Lord God, our heavenly Father, let our 
prayer now come before thee as an incense, and 
let the lifting up of our hands be an acceptable 
evening sacrifice. We acknowledge our un¬ 
worthiness ; we confess our sins ; and all our 
unrighteousness is open before thee. Thou 
hast searched us out, and marked all our ways. 
There is not a word in our tongue, but thou 
knowest it; and thou understandest all our 
secret thoughts. We can not flee from thy 
Spirit; we can not escape from thy presence. 
If we climb up into heaven, or sink down into 
hell, we see thy glory, or we feel thy power. 
17 * 






194 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


If we take the wings of the morning and dwell 
in the uttermost parts of the sea, there shall 
we see thy over-ruling hand. If we say, Per- 
adventure the darkness shall cover us, then 
shall our night be turned to day : The dark¬ 
ness is no darkness with thee ; but the night is 
as clear as the day : The darkness and light 
to thee are both alike. O Lord, enter not 
into judgment with us, thy servants ; for in thy 
sight shall no man be justified. But we cast 
ourselves upon thy mercies in Christ Jesus. 
For his sake, hear the voice of our humble 
petitions, when we cry unto thee. O hide not 
thy face, nor cast away thy servants in dis¬ 
pleasure. 

We bless thee, O God, for all the mercies 
hitherto bestowed upon us ; for thy preserva¬ 
tion and protection during the past day ; and 
for all the various comforts of thy providence 
and grace. The eyes of all wait upon thee, 
O Lord, and thou givest them their meat in 
due season. Thou openest thy hand, and 
fillest all things living with plenteousness. 
Thou hast made us glad through thy works; 
and we will praise thee for the operations of 
thy hands. More especially, heavenly Father, 
we bless thee for thy unspeakable love, in 
sending thine only begotten Son into the 
world, to be the propitiation for our sins. 
May this manifestation of thy great goodness, 




TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


195 


fill us with gratitude and love to thee. Endue 
us by thy grace, with that perfect love which 
casteth out all anxiety and fear ; that as dutiful 
and obedient children we may commit all our 
concerns, in holy trust and confidence, to thee. 
May we lie down under thy guardian care, 
and take our rest in peace ; and may we rise 
in the morning, with renewed strength and 
ability to perform our various duties. But, O 
God, we beseech thee, make us deeply sensi¬ 
ble of the shortness and uncertainty of human 
life. Let us remember, that thou hast made 
our days as it were a span long, and that our 
age is nothing in comparison of thee. Let us 
remember, that in such an hour as we think 
not, our years may come to an end, as it were a 
tale that is told ; and so teach us to number 
our days, that we may apply our hearts unto 
wisdom, that whensoever our Lord shall come 
we may be prepared to meet him. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O Lord, we beseech thee mercifully to hear 
us ; and grant that we, to whom thou hast giv¬ 
en an hearty desire to pray, may, by thy 
mighty aid, be defended and comforted in all 
dangers and adversities, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord, in whose all-prevailing words we 
sum up these our petitions :— 

Our Father, &c. 









196 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


Wednesday Morning. 

Almighty and most merciful Father, we 
humble ourselves before thee, as helpless and 
unworthy sinners. We have erred and stray¬ 
ed from thy ways, like lost sheep. If we say 
that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and 
the truth is not in us : But, O God, if we con¬ 
fess our sins unto thee, thou art faithful and 
just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us 
from all unrighteousness. We have followed 
too much the devices and desires of our own 
hearts. We have offended against thy holy 
laws. We have left undone those things 
which we ought to have done ; and we have 
done those things which we ought not to have 
done : And there is no health in us. O Lord, 
be thou merciful unto us, miserable offenders. 
Spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed 
with thy most precious blood, and be not an¬ 
gry with us forever. Make us truly penitent 
for all our sins, and turn our hearts unto thy 
testimonies. We cast all our care upon thee ; 
for thou carest for us. Whom have we in 
heaven but thee ; and whom on earth can we 
desire in comparison of thee. When our 
flesh and our heart fail, thou art the strength 
of our heart, and our portion forever. Make 
us sober and vigilant; because our adversary, 







TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


197 


the devil, as a roaring lion, walketli about, 
seeking whom he may devour. Give us grace 
to resist every temptation, and to shun every 
evil way ; and ever keep us steadfast in the 
faith, that we may hereafter live a righteous 
and godly life, to the glory of thy holy name. 

Let us go forth to our several duties this 
day, under the care and protection of thy good 
providence, and the guidance of thy Holy 
Spirit. Show us thy ways, O Lord, and in¬ 
cline our hearts to thy commandments. May 
we love thee, the Lord our God, supremely, 
and our neighbor as ourselves. Endue us with 
a spirit of compassion and benevolence, and 
guard us against the sin of covetousness, which 
is idolatry. As we have opportunity, let us 
do good unto all men, especially to those who 
are of the household of faith. Let us not lay 
up for ourselves treasures upon earth, where 
moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves 
break through and steal : But let us lay up for 
ourselves treasures in heaven, where neither 
moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves 
do not break through and steal. Preserve us, 
we beseech thee, in health and peace, and de¬ 
fend us from every danger ; from the arrow 
that flieth by day ; from the pestilence that 
walketh in darkness ; and from the sickness 
that wasteth at noon-day. Be thou a present 
God to all who are near and dear to us ; and 





198 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


especially to those who are in trouble, sorrow, 
or affliction. Hearken to their prayer, when 
they cry unto thee ; fulfil all their desires ; and 
help and deliver them, for Jesus Christ’s sake. 
[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Almighty God, who hast given us grace at 
this time, with one accord to make our com¬ 
mon supplications unto thee, and dost promise 
that when two or three are gathered together 
in thy name, thou wilt grant their requests; 
fulfil now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of 
us thy servants, as may be most expedient for 
us ; granting us in this world knowledge of 
thy truth, and in the w r orld to come life ever¬ 
lasting. We ask for all in the name, and for 
the sake, of Jesus Christ our Lord, in whose 
perfect form of words we conclude our peti¬ 
tions :— 

Our Father, &c. 


Wednesday Evening. 

O Lord, our heavenly Father, by whose al¬ 
mighty power we have been preserved this 
day, we again commit ourselves to thy holy 
care and keeping this night. By thy great 
mercy, defend us from all perils and dangers. 






TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


199 


Spread over us the shadow of thy wings, that 
we may lie down in peace, and fear no evil. 
Give rest to our wearied bodies, and tranquility 
to cur spirits, that our sleep may be sweet, and 
our slumbers refreshing. And, O God, make 
all thy goodness pass before us, that we may 
remember thee on our bed, and meditate on 
thee in the night-watches. Let us commune 
with our own hearts, and make us faithful in 
our self-examination ; remembering always, 
that if our heart condemn us, thou, O God, 
art greater than our heart, and knowest all 
things. 

Pardon, O Lord, all the sins which we have 
committed this day. Look with compassion 
on our weakness and infirmities. Who can 
tell how oft he offendeth ? O cleanse thou 
us from our secret faults. Keep us also from 
presumptuous sins, lest they get the dominion 
over us. O remember not our former trans¬ 
gressions ; but according to thy great good¬ 
ness, show us the light of thy countenance, 
and have mercy upon us. 

Extend thy compassions, heavenly Father, 
to the whole human race. Make thy way 
known upon earth, thy saving health among 
all nations. Let thy gospel be published in 
all the world ; and let repentance and remis¬ 
sion of sins be preached to all people. Cause 
the wicked to forsake his way, and the un- 







200 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


righteous man his thoughts. May he return 
unto thee, O Lord, that thou mayest have 
mercy upon him, and abundantly pardon him. 
Have pity especially upon those who are bow r - 
ed down under a sense of their sins ; and to 
whom the remembrance of them is grievous, 
and the burden thereof intolerable. O merci¬ 
ful God, who hast written thy holy word for 
our learning, that we through patience and 
comfort of the scriptures might have hope, 
give to those who are w 7 eary and heavy laden, 
a right understanding of themselves, and of thy 
threats and promises ; that they may neither 
cast away their confidence in thee, nor place 
it anywhere but in thee. Give them strength 
against all their temptations, and help all their 
infirmities : Break not the bruised reed, nor 
quench the smoking flax : Shut not up thy 
tender mercies in displeasure ; but make them 
to hear of joy and gladness, that the broken 
bones may rejoice, and the heavy heart be lift¬ 
ed up : Deliver them from fear of the enemy, 
and lift up the light of thy countenance upon 
them, and give them peace, through the mer¬ 
its and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Be gracious, O God, to all our relatives and 
friends. Grant unto them and us, all the bene¬ 
fits and privileges of thy great salvation. May 
we all be one, in the faith and fellowship of 






TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


201 


the gospel; that Christ may be in us, and we 
in him, and both in thee, through his all-suffi¬ 
cient atonement and intercession. 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 


Thursday Morning. 

Our Father, who art in heaven : Let us 
come into thy presence, as dutiful children, 
and cry unto thee in the true spirit of adop¬ 
tion. And, O God, hear thou in heaven, thy 
dwelling-place, and accept our supplications, 
and grant our petitions, for thy dear Son’s sake. 

Hallowed be thy name. From the rising of 
the sun, even unto the going down of the same, 
be thy name exalted ; and in every place may 
incense be offered unto thy name, and a pure 
offering; that thy name may be great among 
the nations. 

Thy kingdom come. In the day of thy 
power, may the people offer thee free-will of¬ 
ferings, with an holy worship. Hasten the 
day, O Lord, when every knee shall bow to 
thy sceptre, and every tongue confess thy 
righteousness. Grant that all men may walk 
in thy fear ; that the dominion of the Prince 
of Peace may extend throughout the world ; 

18 









202 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


and that the earth tnay be full of the know¬ 
ledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea. 

Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heav¬ 
en. Thou alone canst order the unruly wills 
and affections of sinful men. Grant unto us 
thy Holy Spirit, that we may love the thing 
which thou commandest, and desire that which 
thou dost promise. As all the heavenly host 
delight to do thy will; so may we, thy unwor¬ 
thy servants, be enabled, through thy grace, to 
walk in the way of thy commandments, and 
to submit to all thy righteous dealings ; that 
after we have done thy will on earth, we may 
be received, according to thy promise, to glo¬ 
rify thee in heaven. 

Give us this day our daily bread. Thou 
openest thine hand, O God, and fillest all things 
living with plenteousness. Supply, be beseech 
thee, all our temporal and spiritual necessities. 
Sustain our perishing bodies from day to day, 
and feed our souls with the bread of life—even 
that bread of God, which cometh down from 
heaven, and giveth life unto the world. 

And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive 
those who trespass against us. According to 
the measure of our forbearance and forgiveness 
to others, may we hope to be forgiven of thee. 
Make us kind and compassionate, tender¬ 
hearted, forgiving one another, even as thou, 
for Christ’s sake, hast forgiven us. 








TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


203 


And lead us not into temptation. Put 
away from us, we beseech thee, all the deceit¬ 
ful allurements of the world, the flesh, and the 
devil; that we walk not in the counsel of the 
ungodly ; nor stand in the way of sinners ; nor 
sit in the seat of the scornful. Purify our 
hearts from those inordinate and sinful desires 
and affections, by which we are drawn away 
and enticed. Suffer us not to be tempted 
above that we are able ; but, with every temp¬ 
tation, do thou, in infinite mercy, make a way 
for us to escape. O blessed Jesus, who hast 
thyself suffered, and wast in all points tempted 
like as we are, thou art able to succor them 
that are tempted. Keep us in the hour of tri¬ 
al ; save us from every snare ; and bear us 
above all the crafts and assaults of the adver¬ 
sary. 

Deliver us from evil. O Lord, our God, 
who alone art able to deliver us, our only trust 
is in thee. Thou art a defence for the op¬ 
pressed ; even a refuge in every time of trou¬ 
ble. Incline thine ear unto us, and save us. 
Be thou our strong hold, whereunto we may 
always resort ; our house of defence, and our 
castle. Let no evil happen unto us, nor any 
plague come nigh our dwelling. Deliver us 
from all the calamities of this life ; from the 
pains of disease ; from trouble, sorrow, and 
affliction : And, above all, deliver us from the 






TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


204 

bondage of corruption; from the slavery of 
sin; and from everlasting condemnation. 

And to thee, with the Son, and the Holy 
Ghost, be the kingdom, and the power, and 
the glory, forever and ever. Amen . 


Thursday Evening. 

O merciful God and heavenly Father, who 
makest the returns of the morning and evening 
to praise thee, we acknowledge thy great good¬ 
ness, in preserving our lives, and in bringing 
us to the close of this day in peace and safety. 
Every day dost thou manifest thy loving kind¬ 
ness, and every night we are bound to offer 
up our praises unto thee. Let our prayer now 
come before thee as incense ; and let the lift¬ 
ing up of our hands be accepted of thee as an 
evening sacrifice. 

We humbly confess, O God, the sins and 
iniquities of this day. How often have we 
violated thy holy precepts and commandments! 
How many duties have we neglected ! If thou 
wert extreme to mark what is done amiss, who 
could abide thy indignation ! But we know 








TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


205 


that thou art gracious and merciful, long-suf¬ 
fering, and full of compassion. We cast our¬ 
selves upon thy mercies in Christ Jesus ; be¬ 
seeching thee to look down upon us, in thy 
wonted pity and forbearance. Have mercy 
upon us, after thy abundant goodness ; accord¬ 
ing to the multitude of thy mercies, do away 
our offences. Draw nigh unto us, and save us 
from our sins. Give unto us that peace which 
the world can never give; that we may go to 
our rest in perfect charity with all men ; with 
consciences void of offence, and with perfect 
trust and confidence in thee. May we dwell 
securely under the defence of the Most High ; 
and abide in safety under the shadow of the 
Almighty : And, being protected from every 
peril and danger, may we pass the night in rest 
and quietness ; through the merits of our only 
Saviour, Jesus Christ. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

To thee, O gracious God, and to thy tender 
mercies, we commend ourselves and all for 
whom it is our duty and our desire to pray. 
Remember with favor the Church, which thy 
blessed Son hast purchased with his own 
precious blood. Send forth among its mem¬ 
bers a spirit of grace and supplication, that 
they may so confess Jesus Christ before men, 
that he may finally confess them before thy 
throne in heaven. Enlighten the ignorant, 
18 * 







TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


206 

awaken the careless and negligent, sustain and 
direct the humble and contrite soul, and bring 
all men to the obedience of the gospel. To 
our dear friends, relatives, and neighbors, 
extend thy mercies, both temporal and spirit¬ 
ual. Bless them with health and prosperity ; 
or, if thou shalt see fit to visit them with 
trouble, sanctify and overrule all their sorrows 
and adversities, to their present and eternal 
good. Above all, make them wise unto salva¬ 
tion, that they may partake of the consolations 
of thy spirit here, and finally attain to thy 
heavenly kingdom. 

O thou, who art the way, the truth and the 
life, open unto us the path to heaven, enlight¬ 
en our minds -with the beams of eternal truth, 
and after the trials and perils of this life are 
over, bring us at last into thy presence, where 
there is fulness of joy, and to thy right hand, 
where there are pleasures forevermore. And 
to thee, O blessed Saviour, with the Father 
and the Holy Ghost, be all the glory and praise, 
world without end. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

The grace, &c. 





TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


207 


Friday Morning, 


O God, the Father of heaven, have mercy 
upon us, miserable sinners. O God, the Son, 
Redeemer of the world, have mercy upon us. 
O God, the Holy Ghost, proceeding from the 
Father and the Son, have mercy upon us. O 
holy, blessed, and glorious Trinity, three per¬ 
sons and one God, have mercy upon us. 

O Lord, remember not our offences, nor the 
offences of our forefathers, neither take thou 
vengeance of our sins. Spare us, good Lord, 
spare thy people, whom thou hast redeemed 
with thy most precious blood, and be not an¬ 
gry with us forever. 

Deliver us, O Lord, from all evil and mis¬ 
chief ; from sin ; from the crafts and assaults of 
the devil; from thy wrath, and from everlast¬ 
ing damnation : From all blindness of heart; 
from pride, vain-glory, and hypocrisy; from 
envy, hatred, and malice, and all uncharitable¬ 
ness : From all inordinate and sinful affections; 
and from all the deceits of the world, the flesh, 
and the devil: From lightning and tempest; 
from plague, pestilence, and famine; from 
battle and murder, and from sudden death : 
From all sedition, privy conspiracy, and re¬ 
bellion; from all false doctrine, heresy, and 







203 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


schism ; from hardness of heart, and contempt 
of thy word and commandment. 

By the mystery of thy holy Incarnation ; by 
thy holy Nativity and Circumcision; by thy 
Baptism, Fasting, and Temptation ; by thine 
Agony and Bloody Sweat; by thy Cross and 
Passion ; by thy precious Death and Burial; 
by thy glorious Resurrection and Ascension ; 
and by the coming of the Holy Ghost; good 
Lord deliver us. 

In all time of our tribulation ; in all time of 
our prosperity; in the hour of death, and in 
the day of judgment, good Lord deliver us. 

O Lord, arise, help us, and deliver us, for thy 
name’s sake. Deal not with us according to 
our sins, neither reward us according to our 
iniquities. Favorably with mercy hear our 
prayers; and behold in pity the sorrows of our 
hearts. 

O God, merciful Father, who despisest not 
the sighing of a contrite heart, nor the desire 
of such as are sorrowful; mercifully assist our 
prayers, which we make before thee at all 
times, and especially in our troubles and ad¬ 
versities, whensoever they oppress us; and 
graciously hear us, that those evils which the 
craft and subtlety of the devil or man worketh 
against us, may, by thy good providence, be 
brought to nought; that we, thy servants, 
being hurt by no persecutions, may evermore 






209 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


give thanks to thee, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Our Father, &c. 

Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection, 
we now commit ourselves, and all our friends, 
relatives, and brethren. O Lord, bless us and 
keep us : Make thy face to shine upon us, and 
be gracious unto us : Lift up thy countenance 
upon us, and give us peace, both now and 
evermore. Amen . 


Friday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

O Lord God, our heavenly Father, we sin¬ 
ners do beseech thee to hear us, and grant all 
that we call upon thee for, in the name of thy 
beloved Son. May it please thee, to rule and 
govern thy Holy Church universal, to thy glory, 
and the good of thy people. Bless and pre¬ 
serve all Christian rulers and magistrates ; 
giving them grace to execute justice, and to 
maintain truth : Illuminate all Bishops, Priests, 
and Deacons, with true knowledge and under¬ 
standing of thy word; that both by their 
preaching and living, they may set it forth, 
and show it accordingly: Bless and keep all 










210 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


thy people : Give to all nations unity, peace 
and concord: Give us an heart to love and 
fear thee, and diligently to live after thy com¬ 
mandments : Give to all thy people increase of 
grace, to hear meekly thy word, and to receive 
it with pure affection, and to bring forth the 
fruits of thy Spirit. Bring into the way of 
truth all such as have erred and are deceived: 
Strengthen such as do stand, and comfort and 
help the weak-hearted, and raise up those who 
fall, and finally beat down Satan under our 
feet: Succor, help, and comfort, all who are 
in danger, necessity, or tribulation : Preserve 
all who travel by land or by water; all sick 
persons, and young children ; and show thy 
pity upon all prisoners and captives: Defend 
and provide for the fatherless children, and 
widows, and all who are desolate and op¬ 
pressed : Have mercy upon all men : Forgive 
our enemies, persecutors, and slanderers, and 
turn their hearts: Give and preserve to our 
use, the kindly fruits of the earth, so that in 
due time we may enjoy them; Give us true 
repentance, forgive us all our sins, negligen- 
cies, and ignorances ; and endue us with the 
grace of thy Holy Spirit, to amend our lives, 
according to thy holy word. 

Son of God, we beseech thee to hear us. 
O Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of 
the world, grant us thy peace. O Lamb of 





TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


211 


God, who takest away the sins of the world, 
have mercy upon us. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We humbly beseech thee, O Father, mer¬ 
cifully to look upon our infirmities; and, for 
the glory of thy name, turn from us all those 
evils that we most justly have deserved ; and 
grant, that in all our troubles, trials and neces¬ 
sities, we may put our whole trust and con¬ 
fidence in thy mercy, and evermore serve thee 
in holiness and pureness of living, to thy honor 
and glory, through our only Mediator and 
Advocate, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . 
The grace, &c. 


Saturday Morning. 

O God, thou art our God, early will we seek 
thee. Thy mercies are new every morning ; 
and every morning will we direct our prayer 
unto thee. Unworthy sinners as we are, it is 
good for us to draw near unto thee; and wilt 
thou, O God, in infinite condescension, draw 
near unto us and hearken to our supplications. 
We seek for mercy and forgiveness, only 
through the merits and intercession of thy be¬ 
loved Son. 








212 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


We beseech thee, heavenly Father, to grant 
us thy constant guidance, counsel and support, 
that through the help of thy Holy Spirit, we 
may obey thy commandments, and faithfully 
follow thy precepts. Show us the way in 
which we should walk, for we lift up our souls 
unto thee. 

O God, if thou sliouldst see fit, in thine in¬ 
finite wisdom, to visit us with pain, or sick¬ 
ness, or sorrow, he thou our ever present 
solace and refuge, and heal our diseases, and 
help our infirmities, or give us grace so to take 
thy visitation, that we may submit with pa¬ 
tience and resignation to every dispensation of 
thy hand. Let us hear of thy loving kindness 
at all times, for in thee is our trust. 

If poverty and want should be our lot, be 
thou, O God, our portion and inheritance. 
Let us remember that thy blessed Son was 
contented to become poor and destitute, that 
he might make many rich, and that he is able 
to afford help and deliverance in every time of 
need. Teach us to endure all things for his 
sake, that our treasures may be laid up in 
heaven, and that our hearts may be fixed on 
things above, where alone true joys are to be 
found. Or if thou sliouldst bestow upon us 
the rich bounties of thy providence, keep us, 
we beseech thee, from all presumptuous sins ; 
from pride, and arrogancy, and self-dependence, 






TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


213 


from forgetfulness of thee; and from all those 
hurtful lusts and passions, which war against 
the soul. May we be clothed with humility ; 
always remembering, that God resisteth the 
proud, and giveth grace to the humble. O 
thou from whom cometh every good and per¬ 
fect gift, give us a grateful sense of all thy 
mercies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O merciful God, if it please thee, bring us 
in peace and safety to the close of this day, 
and enable us again to cast ourselves, and all 
our concerns, upon thy goodness and mercy. 
And when all the days of our pilgrimage shall 
be ended ; when our probation shall be brought 
to a close; when all our earthly labors, and 
cares, and joys, and sorrows, shall cease, O 
blessed Jesus, shed thy heavenly radiance round 
our dying bed ; place underneath us thine ev¬ 
erlasting arms, and enable us, by thy blessed 
Spirit, to enter those mansions in thy Father’s 
house, which thou bast gone to prepare for 
those that love thee. 

We ask for all in thy name, and in the form 
of words which thou hast taught thy disciples 
to use :— 

Our Father, &c. 


19 





214 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


Saturday Evening. 

Our Father, &c. 

Almighty and everlasting God, who art 
always more ready to hear than we to pray, 
and art wont to give more than we either desire 
or deserve ; we bless thee, we praise thee, for all 
the mercies bestowed upon us this day. It is a 
good thing to give thanks unto thee, O Lord ; 
to tell of thy loving kindness early in the 
morning, and of thy truth in the night season. 
We will thank thee with all our hearts; we will 
praise thy name forevermore. Every hour 
that thou addest to our lives, is a monument of 
thy wondrous love; every day bears testimony 
of thy providential care. 

But we acknowledge, O God, with shame 
and confusion of face, our hardness and in¬ 
gratitude. How thoughtless, how regardless 
are we of thy mercies ! How often do we 
neglect our duties ; how often do we wander 
from the way of thy commandments ! For 
how many sinful thoughts, and w T ords, and 
works, must we render an account this night! 
Let thy Holy Spirit now bring our offences to 
remembrance, that we may confess them before 
thee, and seek forgiveness at thy hands. 
Thou art nigh unto them that are of a contrite 








TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


215 


heart, and wilt save such as be of an humble 
spirit. Put us not to rebuke, O Lord, in thine 
anger; neither chasten us in thy heavy dis¬ 
pleasure. May we have an Advocate with 
the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous; and 
through his propitiation, may we, now and 
ever, find acceptance at thy throne. 

We offer our humble supplications unto 
thee, O heavenly Father, for all our relatives 
and friends. Make them partakers of thy 
grace; that they may love and serve thee, with 
all their heart, and soul, and mind, and 
strength ; and that all things may work to¬ 
gether for their present and eternal good. Pro¬ 
vide, we beseech thee, for the spiritual and 
temporal necessities of all men. Lead them 
forth in thy truth, and learn them the way of 
salvation. Let the blessed beams of thy 
gospel extend to all the borders of the earth, 
that the Gentiles may come to its light, and 
the nations of the world to the brightness of 
its rising. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

O God, be thou our ever present protector 
and guide. In all the vicissitudes of life, may 
we keep our eye steadfastly fixed on the prom¬ 
ised inheritance of the faithful: And as days 
and weeks pass away, may we feel that eternity 
is approaching. May the gathering shades of 
night, remind us of the dark valley of the 






216 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


shadow of death. May we so prepare our¬ 
selves for our bodily repose, that our souls also 
may be at peace with thee. And if we be not 
permitted to behold the dawn of another Sab¬ 
bath in this world, be thou with us, O blessed 
Jesus ; show us the path of life; and let thy 
rod and thy staff support and comfort us. 
May we sleep in thee ; may our flesh rest in 
hope; and may we finally awake on the 
morning of that Eternal Sabbath, whose sun 
shall never set; whose joys shall never end. 

All which we ask, for the sake, and through 
the merits, of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord 
and Saviour. Amen . 

The grace, &c. 


Morning of the Fourth of July. 


Our Father, &c. 

Almighty God, who hast in all ages made 
known thy power and mercy, in the gracious 
deliverance and protection of states and em¬ 
pires, and hast visited us of old, and beyond 
other nations, with many temporal and spirit¬ 
ual blessings; we yield thee our unfeigned 
thanks and praise, as well for thy many other 
great and public mercies, so especially for that 






TRINITY TO ADVENT. 217 

signal and wonderful deliverance which we 
this day commemorate. Thou hast done 
marvelous things for us, whereof we are glad. 
We praise thee; we bless thee; we magnify 
thee ; for thou hast triumphed gloriously. 
With thine own right hand, and with thy 
mighty arm, hast thou gotten to thyself the 
victory. Thine, O Lord, is the greatness, and 
the power, and the glory, and the majesty, and 
the victory. Thine is the kingdom, and thou 
art exalted as head over all. Thou doest what 
thou wilt in the armies of heaven, and among 
the inhabitants of the earth, and none may 
stay thy hand. O Lord of Hosts ; O God of 
battles ; who is like unto thee, glorious in ho¬ 
liness, fearful in praises, doing wonders! 
[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We beseech thee, O Lord, to pour down 
upon the inhabitants of this land, the spirit of 
unfeigned gratitude and love for all thy mer¬ 
cies towards us. Let the people praise thee, 
O God ; let all the people praise thee. 

And grant that they may show forth thy 
praise, not only with their lips, but in their 
lives. Preserve them from all profane and 
unholy rejoicings, lest they draw down upon 
us a curse, and not a blessing; and lest 
the things which should have been for our 
good, prove unto us an occasion of falling. 

19 * 









218 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


Grant us grace, we beseech thee, to use thy 
blessings as we ought, with devout gratitude to 
thee, our God ; with zeal for thy glory, and 
submission to thy will; with a faithful adhe¬ 
rence to the gospel of thy Son; with obedience 
to our rulers for conscience sake, as thy minis¬ 
ters for good ; with moderation and humility ; 
with justice and purity ; with charity, forbear¬ 
ance, and brotherly love ; that amidst these 
and all thy blessings, we may seek thy glory, 
and the increase of thy kingdom, through the 
merits of Jesus Christ, our blessed Lord and 
Saviour. Amen . 

The Lord bless us, and keep us ! The 
Lord make his face to shine upon us, and be 
gracious unto us ! The Lord lift up the light 
of his countenance upon us and give us peace, 
both now and evermore. Amen . 


Thanksgiving Day — Morning. 

[To be used on the first Thursday of November, or on such other day as 
shall be appointed by the civil authority.] 

Most gracious God, by whose unspeakable 
mercy we are again permitted to present the 
annual tribute of our thanks and praise, we 
bless thee for the continual manifestations of 








TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


219 


thy goodness to us and to all the children of 
men. By thy wisdom, O Lord, thou hast 
founded the earth ; by understanding thou hast 
established the heavens ; by thy knowledge 
the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop 
down the dew. We bless thee for the return 
of seed-time and harvest, and for crowning the 
year with the bounties of thy providence. 
We praise thee for all thy gracious dealings 
towards us, and we beseech thee, of thy great 
goodness, to receive the thank-offerings with 
which we come before thee this day. 

We acknowledge, heavenly Father, the 
imperfection of our best services. We con¬ 
fess that we are sinners before thee, and alto¬ 
gether unworthy of thy mercies. But we 
know that thou art kind and beneficent, even 
to the unthankful and the evil. Thou makest 
thy sun to rise on the evil and on the good, 
and sendest rain on the just and on the unjust. 
Give us a due sense of thy wonderful conde¬ 
scension and forbearance, that our hearts may 
be moved to penitence and contrition for our 
past negligence and sin, and excited to new 
diligence, zeal, and devotion, for the future. 

We beseech thee, O Lord, to pour down 
upon the inhabitants of this land, the spirit of 
unfeigned gratitude and love for all thy mer¬ 
cies. May they enter thy gates with thanks¬ 
giving, and thy courts with praise. May they 





220 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


honor thee with all their substance, and with 
the first fruits of all their increase. And grant 
that they may show forth their devotion to 
thee, not only with their lips, but also in their 
lives. Preserve them from the unholy re¬ 
joicings of the sensual and profane ; restrain 
every sinful and intemperate indulgence ; and 
grant us all grace, heavenly Father, to use thy 
blessings without abusing them ; with zeal for 
thy glory ; submission to thy will, and a faith¬ 
ful adherence to the gospel of thy Son ; with 
moderation and humility ; with justice and pu¬ 
rity ; with charity, forbearance, and brotherly 
love; that amidst these and all thy blessings, 
we may seek thy glory and the increase of thy 
kingdom. 

Fill our hearts, O God, with a spirit of ten¬ 
derness and compassion for all around us. 
May we rejoice with those that do rejoice, and 
weep with those that weep. May we be rea¬ 
dy to impart of the abundance which thou hast 
given us, to the poor and needy ; the distressed 
and the afflicted ; the widow and the father¬ 
less ; and thus fulfill the law of pure and un¬ 
defiled religion before God and the Father. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

Grant us, heavenly Father, a continuance 
of all thy mercies, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord, in whose all-prevailing name and words 
we sum up our petitions :— 

Our Father, &c. 





TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


221 


Thanksgiving Day — Evening . 

O Lord, our Governor, how excellent is 
thy name in all the world; thou that hast set 
thy glory above the heavens ! We will con¬ 
sider the works of thy hands ; the heavens 
which thou hast made ; the moon and the stars 
which thou hast ordained. What is man, 
that thou art mindful of him 1 And the son of 
man, that thou visitest him ? Thou makest 
him to have dominion over the works of thy 
hands ; and thou hast put all things in subjec¬ 
tion under his feet; all sheep and oxen ; yea, 
and the beasts of the field; the fowls of the 
air, and the fishes of the sea ; and whatsoever 
walketh through the paths of the seas. O 
Lord, our Governor, how excellent is thy 
name in all the world ! 

We praise thee, O Lord ; for it is good to 
sing praises unto our God ; for it is pleasant, 
and praise is comely. We thank thee for all 
thy manifold blessings ; for the dispensation of 
thy grace, through the mediation of thy blessed 
Son ; for the bounties of thy providence ; for 
the plenty with which thou hast crowned the 
labors of the husbandman; for the preservation 
of our health ; for the reign of peace, and for 
the enjoyment of our civil and religious liber¬ 
ties. We thank thee for the comforts and 





222 


TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


privileges, of which we have been permitted to 
partake this day. We acknowledge thy hand 
in every mercy, and desire to render back to 
thee the homage of gratitude and love. We 
acknowledge that every good gift, and eve¬ 
ry perfect gift, is from above, and cometh 
down from the Father of lights, with whom is 
no variableness, neither shadow of turning. 
But we confess unto thee, O God, that our 
souls are burdened with iniquity ; that we are 
frail and erring creatures ; that our hearts are 
corrupt, and that our hands are not clean in 
thy sight. Look with pity and compassion 
upon all that we have thought, or said, or done, 
amiss this day. Be present with us, as we 
now present our supplications unto thee ; and 
through the intercession of thy dear Son, 
grant unto us the pardon of all our sins. Give 
thy Holy Spirit, to comfort the troubled mind, 
and soothe the pains, and wipe away the stains 
of guilt. May we retire to rest, in perfect 
charity with all men. May we be enabled, 
through thy help, to love our enemies ; to bless 
them that curse us ; to do good to them that 
hate us ; and to pray for them which despite- 
fully use us and persecute us ; that we may be 
the children of our Father, who art in heaven. 

[Occasional Prayers, &c.] 

We now commit all our concerns to thee, 
O God, for the year to come. Grant us thy 






TRINITY TO ADVENT. 


223 


blessings, both temporal and spiritual, for Je¬ 
sus Christ’s sake, to whom, with thee, O Fath¬ 
er, and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, 
world without end. Amen . 

Our Father, &c. 

Unto God’s gracious mercy and protection, 
we commit ourselves. The Lord bless us and 
keep us. The Lord make his face to shine 
upon us, and be gracious unto us. The Lord 
lift up his countenance upon us, and give us 
peace, both now and evermore. Amen . 







OCCASIONAL PRAYERS AND THANKSGIVINGS. 

TO BE USED IN CONNECTION WITH THE OTHER DEVOTIONS. 


PRAYERS. 


For Communion Day — Morning. 


Grant, O Lord, that whosoever on this day 
shall approach thy holy altar, and partake of 
the blessed sacrament of the body and blood of 
Christ, may receive these instituted memorials 
of the Saviour’s love, with faith, charity, and 
true repentance ; and being filled with thy 
grace and heavenly benediction, may, to their 
great and endless comfort, obtain remission of 
sin, and all other benefits of his passion. 

Or This. 

Grant us grace, O heavenly Father, to pre¬ 
pare our hearts for a due reception of the holy 
sacrament of the Lord’s Supper. May we 
20 



226 


OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


truly and earnestly repent of our sins. May 
we cherish a spirit of love and charity towards 
our neighbors. May we resolve, by thy help, 
to lead a new life, following thy command¬ 
ments, and walking from henceforth in thy 
righteous ways. May we wash our hands in 
innocency, and so may we draw near in faith 
to thy holy altar, and take the blessed sacra¬ 
ment of the body and blood of Christ, to our 
great and endless comfort. 


After Baptism. 

Grant, O Lord, that the child this day ded¬ 
icated to thee, and adopted into thy Church 
by baptism, may be sanctified by the Holy 
Ghost, delivered from thy wrath and eternal 
death, and received as a living member of 
Christ’s mystical body, and ever remain in the 
number of thy faithful children. 


After Confirmation. 

We commend to thy mercy and grace, 
heavenly Father, all those thy servants, who 
have this day, in their own persons, renewed 
the promises and vows which they made, or 








OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


227 


which were made for them by their sureties, in 
baptism, and who have been confirmed by the 
laying on of the hands of the Bishop. Direct, 
sanctify, and govern, their hearts and bodies in 
the ways of thy laws, and in the works of thy 
commandments; and defend them, O Lord, 
with thy heavenly grace, that they may con¬ 
tinue thine forever, and daily increase in thy 
Holy Spirit more and more, until they come 
unto thy heavenly kingdom. 


After a Marriage. 

O Eternal God, Creator and Preserver of 
all mankind, giver of all spiritual grace, the 
author of everlasting life ; send thy blessing, 
we beseech thee, upon thy servants who have 
this day been united together in holy matri¬ 
mony. May they faithfully perform and keep 
their solemn vow and covenant, and ever re¬ 
main in perfect love and peace together, and 
live according to thy laws, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. 


For the Children of a Family. 

Be thou, O God, a father and friend to the 
children of this family. Lead them by thy 









228 


OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


providence through the dangers and tempta¬ 
tions of their youth, that they may neither run 
into folly, nor give way to unbridled passions 
or appetites. Be pleased so to order the events 
of their lives, that by wholesome instruction 
and prudent example, and by thy restraining 
grace, they may be trained up to serve thee 
faithfully, in the midst of an evil world ; and, 
after an holy and useful life, may come to a 
peaceful and happy death ; and may be made 
heirs with Christ in the glories of his heavenly 
kingdom. 


For Sunday Schools. 

Grant, O Lord, thy heavenly grace, to the 
Sunday Schools and other institutions for the 
religious instruction of the children and youth 
of thy flock. Make the pastors and teachers 
of these children duly sensible of the great 
charge committed to their trust. Endue them 
plenteously with thy heavenly gifts, and make 
them faithful in training up the young in thy 
fear and service: That they may from the 
heart, believe in thee, the Lord their God, and 
worship and serve thee, their Creator, Re¬ 
deemer, and Sanctifier: That they may 
renounce the devil and all his works, the pomps 
and vanities of this wicked world, and all the 







OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


229 


sinful desires of the flesh, and keep thy holy 
will and commandments, and walk in the same 
all the days of their life. Graft in their hearts 
the love of thy name; increase in them true 
religion ; nourish them with all goodness; and 
by thy great mercy, keep them in the same, 
that so, in the end, they may obtain everlasting 
life. 


On the Birth-day of a Member of the Family. 

O God, heavenly Father, who hast been gra¬ 
ciously pleased to prolong the days of this thy 
servant, [or this child,] and to add another year 
to his mortal life, we humbly beseech thee to 
take him under thy special care and protec¬ 
tion, for the time which is to come ; and grant 
that, as he advances in years, he may grow in 
grace, and in fitness and preparation for thy 
heavenly kingdom. 


For a Sick Person. 

O Father of mercies, and God of all comfort, 
our only help in time of need, look down from 
heaven, we humbly beseech thee, behold, visit, 
and relieve thy sick servant, for whom we offer 
20 * 










230 


OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


up our earnest supplications. Look upon him 
with the eyes of thy mercy ; comfort him with 
a sense of tl^ goodness ; preserve him from the 
temptations of the enemy; give him patience 
under his affliction; and, in thy good time, re¬ 
store him to health, and enable him to lead the 
residue of his life in thy fear, and to thy glory : 
Or else give him grace so to take thy visitation, 
that after this painful life is ended, he may dwell 
with thee in life everlasting, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 


For a Person Dangerously Sick. 

O Lord God, our heavenly Father, we fly to 
thee for succor in behalf of this thy sick servant, 
in this day of his tribulation and danger. We 
know, O God, that all things are possible with 
thee. We know that thy arm is not shortened, 
that it can not save, nor thy ear heavy, that it 
can not hear. We know that thou canst, if it be 
thy gracious will, speak the word only, and this 
thy servant shall be healed. And we beseech 
thee, merciful God, thus to interpose thine 
hand. Take away from us this cup of bitter¬ 
ness ; and, if it seem good to thee, alleviate his 
sufferings, and remove his complaints, and 
restore him to health, and grant him a longer 






OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


231 


continuance among us. But thy will, O Fath¬ 
er, and not ours, be done. Enable us to sub¬ 
mit, with patience and resignation, to thy 
righteous dealing. And grant to this thy ser¬ 
vant, grace, that his repentance may be perfect, 
his faith strong, his love fervent, and his hope 
steadfast; so that after his departure hence in 
peace, he may rest with thee forever. 


For a Blessing on the Means of Recovery. 


O Almighty God, by whose word man lives, 
and not by any human means alone, prosper, 
we beseech thee, the means which are used 
for the recovery of this thy sick servant. Let 
not his confidence in any human means, lessen 
his dependence upon thee. Make him sensi¬ 
ble that every good gift is from above ; that 
it is thou only who givest help in time of need. 
To thee, gracious God, we fly for succor in 
the day of our visitation : And may this thy 
sick servant look to thee for bodily, as well as 
spiritual strength and salvation. Let thine, O 
God, be the glory, and his the comfort, of the 
means used for his recovery. Let him own 
thee as the author of his mercies ; to thee pay 
his vows and services ; and to thy glory de- 










232 


OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


vote the remainder of his days, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 


For a sick Person, at the Point of Departure. 

O Almighty God, with whom do live the 
spirits of just men made perfect, after they are 
delivered from their earthly prisons, we hum¬ 
bly commend the soul of this thy servant, into 
thy hands ; most humbly beseeching thee, that 
it may be precious in thy sight : Wash it, 
we pray thee, in the blood of that Immaculate 
Lamb, that was slain to take away the sins of 
the world ; that whatsoever defilements it may 
have contracted in the midst of this miserable 
and sinful world, being purged and done away, 
it may be presented pure and without spot be¬ 
fore thee. And teach us who survive, in this, 
and every other spectacle of mortality, to see 
how frail and uncertain our own condition is ; 
and so to number our days, that we may seri¬ 
ously apply our hearts to that holy and heav¬ 
enly wisdom, whilst we live here, which may 
in the end bring us to life everlasting, through 
the merits of Jesus Christ, thine only Son, 
our Lord. 








OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


233 


For a sick Child. 

O Almighty God and merciful Father, to 
whom alone belong the issues of life and death, 
look down from heaven, we humbly beseech 
thee, with the eyes of mercy, upon this child, 
now lying under thy hand in sickness. Visit 
him, O Lord, with thy salvation ; deliver him 
in thy good appointed time from his bodily dis¬ 
ease ; and save his soul for thy mercies’ sake; 
that if it shall be thy pleasure to prolong his 
days here on earth, he may live to thee, and 
be an instrument of thy glory, by serving thee 
faithfully, and doing good in his generation : 
Or else receive him into those heavenly habi¬ 
tations, where the souls of those who sleep in 
the Lord Jesus, enjoy perpetual rest and felici¬ 
ty : Grant this, O Lord, for thy mercies’ sake, 
in the same thy Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. 


For a Person troubled in mind or conscience. 


O blessed Lord, the Father of mercies, and 
the God of all comfort, we beseech thee, look 
down in pity and compassion upon this thy 
afflicted servant. Thou writest bitter things 
against him, and makest him to possess his 










234 


OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


former iniquities : Thy wrath lieth hard up¬ 
on him , and his soul is full of trouble : But, 
O merciful God, who hast written thy holy 
word for our learning, that we, through pa¬ 
tience and comfort of thy holy Scriptures, 
might have hope, give him a right understand¬ 
ing of himself and of thy threats and prom¬ 
ises, that he may neither cast away his con¬ 
fidence in thee, nor place it anywhere but in 
thee. Give him strength against all his temp¬ 
tations, and heal all his distempers : Break not 
the bruised reed, nor quench the smoking flax : 
Shut not up thy tender mercies in displeasure ; 
but make him to hear of joy and gladness, that 
the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice : 
Deliver him from fear of the enemy, and lift 
up the light of thy countenance upon him; 
and give him thy peace, through the merits 
and mediation of Jesus Christ our Lord. 


When under Affliction. 

O merciful God, and heavenly Father, who 
hast taught us in thy holy word, that thou dost 
not willingly afflict or grieve the children of 
men, look with pity, we beseech thee, upon 
us in our present sorrows. In thy wisdom 
thou hast seen fit to visit us with trouble, and 
to bring distress upon us. Remember us, O 







OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


235 


Lord, in mercy; sanctify thy fatherly correc¬ 
tion to us; endue our souls with patience un¬ 
der our affliction, and with resignation to thv 
blessed will ; comfort us with a sense of thy 
goodness ; lift up thy countenance upon us, and 
give us peace, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


After a Funeral. 

O God, whose days are without end, and 
whose mercies can not be numbered, grant that 
the solemn services of this day may make us 
deeply sensible of the shortness and uncertainty 
of human life, and of the transitory nature of 
all earthly things. Sanctify to us, and to all 
the friends and relatives of the deceased, this 
afflictive dispensation of thy providence. May 
the lively sense of the bereavement which we 
have sustained, lead us to cleave more closely 
to thee our God. In all our troubles, may our 
whole trust and confidence be placed in thy 
mercy. Awakened by this visitation to a real¬ 
izing sense of our own danger, may w r e resolve 
to seek supremely those things which are 
above ; to resign ourselves and all our concerns 
to thy disposal; and in the fulness of resigna¬ 
tion, to say with the holy Job :—“ The Lord 
gave, and the Lord hath taken away, blessed 
be the name of the Lord.” 








236 


OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


For a Person at Sea. 

O Eternal God, who alone spreadest out the 
heavens, and rulest the raging of the sea, we 
commend to thy Almighty protection, thy ser¬ 
vant, for whose preservation on the great deep 
we offer up our humble supplications. Guard 
him, we beseech thee, from the dangers of the 
sea, from pestilence and sickness, from the 
violence of enemies, and from every evil to 
which he may be exposed. Conduct him in 
safety to his place of destination, and in thy 
good time, restore him in health and peace, to 
Jiis home, his family, and his friends : And, 
above all, give him a grateful sense of all thy 
mercies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For a Person on a Journey. 

O Father Almighty, whose mercy is over 
all thy works, we commend to thy protection 
and care, thy servant, now absent from his 
home and family. Preserve him, we beseech 
thee, in all his journeyings; guard him in every 
danger and calamity ; keep him in health and 
safety; and in thy good time, restore him again 
to the joys and comforts of his household ; that 
he may praise thee for all thy mercies, and love 







OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


237 


and serve thee faithfully all his days, through 
Jesus Christ our Lord. 


After an Ordination . 

Almighty God, giver of all good things, who 
by thy Holy Spirit hast appointed divers or¬ 
ders of ministers in thy Church, mercifully 
behold thy servant, who has this day been ad¬ 
mitted to the office of [j Deacon or] Priest; 
and so replenish him with the truth of thy doc¬ 
trine, and adorn him with innocency of life, 
that both by word and good example, he may 
faithfully serve thee in this office, to the glory 
of thy name, and the edification of thy Church, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For Conventions. 

Almighty and everlasting God, who, by thy 
Holy Spirit, didst preside in the councils of the 
blessed Apostles, and hast promised, through 
thy Son Jesus Christ, to be with thy Church 
to the end of the world, we beseech thee to 
be present with the council of thy Church now 
assembled. Save them from all error, igno¬ 
rance, pride, and prejudice ; and of thy great 













238 


OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


mercy, vouchsafe, we beseech thee, so to di¬ 
rect, sanctify, and govern them in their present 
work, by the mighty power of the Holy Ghost, 
that the comfortable gospel of Christ may be 
truly preached, truly received, and truly fol¬ 
lowed, in all places, to the breaking down of 
the kingdom of sin, Satan, and death ; till at 
length the whole of thy dispersed sheep, being 
gathered into one fold, shall become partakers 
of everlasting life, through the merits and death 
of Jesus Christ our Saviour. 


For Rain. 

O God, heavenly Father, who by thy Son 
Jesus Christ hast promised to all those who 
seek thy kingdom and the righteousness there¬ 
of, all things necessary to their bodily suste¬ 
nance, send us, we beseech thee, in this our 
necessity, such refreshing supplies of rain, 
that we may receive the fruits of the earth to 
our comfort, and to thy honor, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 











OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


239 


For Fair Weather . 

Almighty and most merciful Father, we 
humbly beseech thee, of thy great goodness, to 
restrain those immoderate rains, wherewith, 
for our sins, thou hast afflicted us : And we 
pray thee to send us such seasonable weather, 
that the earth may, in due time, yield her in¬ 
crease for our use and benefit; and give us 
grace, that we may learn by thy punishments 
to amend our lives, and for thy clemency to 
give thee thanks and praise, through Jesus 
Christ our Lord. 


In time of Dearth and Famine. 

O God, heavenly Father, whose gift it is 
that the rain doth fall, and the earth bring forth 
her increase, behold, we beseech thee, the 
afflictions of thy people ; increase the fruits of 
the earth by thy heavenly benediction ; and 
grant that the scarcity and dearth, which we 
now most justly suffer for our sins, may, 
through thy goodness, be mercifully turned into 
plenty, for the love of Jesus Christ our Lord. 








240 


OCCASIONAL PRAYERS. 


In time of War and Tumults. 

O Almighty God, the supreme Governor of 
all things, whose power no creature is able to 
resist, to whom it belongeth justly to punish 
sinners, and to be merciful to those who truly 
repent, save and deliver us, we humbly be¬ 
seech thee, from the hands of our enemies ; 
that we, being armed with thy defence, may 
be preserved evermore from all perils, to glorify 
thee, who art the only giver of all victory, 
through the merits of thy Son, Jesus Christ 
our Lord. 


In time of great Sickness and ATnrt.a7.ify . 

O Almighty God, the Lord of life and death, 
of sickness and health, regard our supplica¬ 
tions, we humbly beseech thee ; and, as thou 
hast thought fit to visit us for our sins with great 
sickness and mortality, in the midst of thy 
judgment, O Lord, remember mercy. Have 
pity upon us miserable sinners, and withdraw 
from us the grievous sickness with which we 
are afflicted. May this thy fatherly correction 
have its due influence upon us, by leading us 
to consider the frailty and uncertainty of our 
life ; that we may apply our hearts unto that 
heavenly wisdom, which in the end will bring 
us to everlasting life, through Jesus Christ our 
Lord. 







OCCASIONAL THANKSGIVINGS. 


241 


THANKSGIVINGS. 


After Communion. 

Almighty and everliving God, we most 
heartily thank thee for thy great mercy, in per¬ 
mitting us, on this day, to receive the spiritual 
food of the most precious body and blood of 
thy Son our Saviour Jesus Christ. We thank 
thee for this comfortable assurance of thy favor 
and goodness; and for the blessed hope, that 
we are very members incorporate in the mysti¬ 
cal body of thy Son, which is the whole com¬ 
pany of all faithful people; and are also heirs 
through grace of thy everlasting kingdom, by 
the merits of the most precious death and pas¬ 
sion of thy dear Son. And we most humbly 
beseech thee, O heavenly Father, so to assist 
us with thy grace, that we may continue in 
that holy fellowship, and do all such good 
works as thou hast prepared for us to walk in, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For the beginning of Recovery from Sickness. 

Great and mighty God, who bringest down 
to the grave, and bringest up again, we bless 

21 * 







242 


OCCASIONAL THANKSGIVINGS. 


thy great goodness, for having turned our hea¬ 
viness into joy, and our mourning into gladness, 
by restoring this thy servant to some degree of 
his former health. Blessed be thy name, that 
thou didst not forsake him in his sickness ; but 
didst visit him with comforts from above ; didst 
support him in patience and submission to thy 
will; and, at last, didst send him seasonable 
relief. Perfect, we beseech thee, this thy 
mercy towards him; and prosper the means 
which shall be made use of for his cure: that 
being restored to health of body, vigor of mind, 
and cheerfulness of spirit, he may be able to go 
to thine house, to offer thee an oblation with 
great gladness ; and to bless thy holy name for 
all thy goodness towards him, through Jesus 
Christ our Saviour. 


For Recovery from Sickness. 

O God, who art the giver of life, of health, 
and of safety, we bless thy name, that] thou 
hast been pleased to deliver from his bodily 
sickness this thy servant, who is now enabled 
to unite with us in returning thanks unto thee, 
for this thy great mercy. Gracious art thou, 
O Lord, and full of compassion to the chil¬ 
dren of men. May his heart be duly impressed 
with a sense of thy merciful goodness, and 








OCCASIONAL THANKSGIVINGS. 


243 


may he devote the residue of his days to an 
humble, holy, and obedient walking before 
thee, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For a safe Return from Sea. 

Most gracious Lord, whose mercy is over 
all thy works, we praise thy holy name, that 
thou hast been pleased to conduct in safety, 
through the perils of the great deep, this thy 
servant, who now desires to unite with us in 
returning thanks to thee. May he be duly 
sensible of thy merciful providence towards 
him, and ever express his thankfulness, by a 
holy trust in thee, and obedience to thy laws, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For a safe Return from a Journey. 

Merciful Father, we bless thee for thy pro¬ 
vidential care in protecting this thy servant, in 
his late absence from his home and family. 
We thank thee for his preservation in his 
journeyings ; for his exemption from danger, 
and sickness, and death ; and for his safe re¬ 
turn to the joys and comforts of his household. 
May he ever praise thee for all thy mercies, 








244 


OCCASIONAL THANKSGIVINGS. 


and love and serve thee faithfully all his days, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


After the birth of a Child. 

O Almighty God, we give thee humble 
thanks, for that thou hast been graciously 
pleased to preserve, through the great pain and 
peril of child-birth, thy servant, in whose be¬ 
half we desire now to offer our praises and 
thanksgivings unto thee. Grant, we beseech 
thee, most merciful Father, that she, through 
thy help, may both faithfully live and walk ac¬ 
cording to thy will in this life present, and also 
may be partaker of everlasting glory in the life 
to come, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For Rain. 

O God, our heavenly Father, who by thy 
gracious providence dost cause the former and 
the latter rain to descend upon the earth, that 
it may bring forth fruit for the use of man, we 
give thee humble thanks that it hath pleased 
thee, in our great necessity, to send a joyful 
rain upon thine inheritance, and to refresh it 
when it was dry, to the great comfort of us thy 











OCCASIONAL THANKSGIVINGS. 


245 


unworthy servants, and to the glory of thy 
holy name, through thy mercies in Jesus Christ 
our Lord. 


For Fair Weather. 

O Lord God, who hast justly humbled us by 
thy late visitation of immoderate rain and 
storms, and in thy mercy hast now relieved and 
comforted us by this seasonable and blessed 
change of weather, we praise and glorify thy 
holy name, for this thy mercy: And we be¬ 
seech thee to grant us grace, always to declare 

tlij" loving kindnooo, from gonoration to geno 

ration, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For Plenty. 

O most merciful Father, who of thy gra¬ 
cious goodness, hast heard our prayers and 
supplications, and turned our dearth and scar¬ 
city into plenty, we give thee humble thanks 
for this thy special bounty; beseeching thee 
to continue thy loving kindness unto us, that 
our land may yield us her fruits of increase, to 
thy glory and our comfort, through Jesus Christ 
our Lord. 












246 


OCCASIONAL THANKSGIVINGS. 


For a return of Peace. 

O Almighty God, who art a strong tower of 
defense unto thy servants, against the face of 
their enemies, we yield thee praise and thanks¬ 
giving for our deliverance from the perils and 
dangers wherewith we have been encom¬ 
passed, and for a restoration of the blessings 
of peace ; beseeching thee still to continue thy 
mercies towards us, that all the world may 
know that thou art our Saviour and mighty 
Deliverer, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For the restoration of tranquility at home. 

O eternal God, our heavenly Father, who 
alone canst order and subdue the unruly wills 
and affections of sinful men, and make thy 
people to be of one mind, we bless thy holy 
name, that it hath pleased thee to appease the 
domestic tumults and troubles, by which our 
land has been afflicted ; most humbly beseech¬ 
ing thee to grant to all of us grace, that we 
may henceforth obediently walk in thy holy 
commandments; and, leading a quiet and 
peaceable life in all godliness and honesty, may 
continually offer unto thee our sacrifice of 







OCCASIONAL THANKSGIVINGS. 247 

praise and thanksgiving for these thy mercies 
towards us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 


For deliveranee from great Sickness and Mortality. 

O Lord God, who hast wounded us for our 
sins, and consumed us for our transgressions, 
by thy late heavy and dreadful visitation ; and 
now, in the midst of judgment remembering 
mercy, hast redeemed our souls from the ter¬ 
rors of death ; we offer unto thy fatherly good¬ 
ness ourselves, our souls and bodies, which 
thou hast delivered, to be a living sacrifice unto 
thee ; always praising and magnifying thy mer¬ 
cies, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 









BLESSINGS AND GRACES AT TABLE. 


Before Meals. 

Father of mercies, pardon our transgres¬ 
sions ; accept our imperfect services, and bless 
this bounty of thy providence to our use, and us 
to thy service, for Christ’s sake. Amen . 


We bless thee, O God, for covering our ta¬ 
ble with plenty, and for the present opportunity 
of partaking of thy bounties. Nourish our 
bodies w T ith these provisions of thy hand, and 
our souls with the bread of life, for the sake of 
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . 


After Meals. 

For the daily blessings and bounties of thy 
hand; for this present refreshment; and for 
all thy other mercies, both temporal and spirit¬ 
ual 5* thy holy name, O God, be praised, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . 


O God, for all thy mercies ; for the food that 
supports our bodies, and the grace that sustains 
our souls ; we bless and praise thy holy name, 
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen . 



















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